Estimating shared image device operational capabilities or resources

ABSTRACT

This disclosure describes a number of devices or techniques that can be capable of obtaining an operational capacity for a shared image device; estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of one or more images based at least in part on the obtaining the operational capacity; and sharing the one or more images with at least one other shared image device in a manner that performs the transformation of the one or more images.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to, claims the earliest available effective filing date(s) from (e.g., claims earliest available priority dates for other than provisional patent applications; claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patent applications), and incorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of the following listed application(s) (the “Related Applications”) to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith; the present application also claims the earliest available effective filing date(s) from, and also incorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the Related Application(s) to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith. The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a notice to the effect that the USPTO's computer programs require that patent applicants reference both a serial number and indicate whether an application is a continuation or continuation in part. (see CITATION). The present applicant entity has provided below a specific reference to the application(s) from which priority is being claimed as recited by statute. Applicant entity understands that the statute is unambiguous in its specific reference language and does not require either a serial number or any characterization such as “continuation” or “continuation-in-part.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, applicant entity understands that the USPTO's computer programs have certain data entry requirements, and hence applicant entity is designating the present application as a continuation in part of its parent applications, but expressly points out that such designations are not to be construed in any way as any type of commentary and/or admission as to whether or not the present application contains any new matter in addition to the matter of its parent application(s).

-   1. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,644, entitled SHARED     IMAGE DEVICES, naming Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A. Levien; Robert W.     Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo, Jr. as inventors, filed     31 Jan. 2005 now abandoned. -   2. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,629, entitled VIEWFINDER     FOR SHARED IMAGE DEVICE, naming Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A. Levien;     Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo, Jr. as     inventors, filed 1 Feb. 2005. -   3. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/064,787, entitled STORAGE     ASPECTS FOR IMAGING DEVICE, naming Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A.     Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo, Jr. as     inventors, filed 23 Feb. 2005. -   4. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/069,909, entitled SHARING     INCLUDING PERIPHERAL SHARED IMAGE DEVICES, naming Edward K. Y. Jung;     Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D.     Rinaldo, Jr. as inventors, filed 28 Feb. 2005. -   5. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/089,530, entitled PERIPHERAL     SHARED IMAGE DEVICE SHARING, naming Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A.     Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo, Jr. as     inventors, filed 23 Mar. 2005. -   6. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/095,768, entitled IMAGE     TRANSFORMATION ESTIMATOR OF AN IMAGING DEVICE, naming Edward K. Y.     Jung; Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D.     Rinaldo, Jr. as inventors, filed 30 Mar. 2005 now abandoned. -   7. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/115,078, entitled PROXIMITY     OF SHARED IMAGE DEVICES, naming Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A. Levien;     Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo, Jr. as     inventors, filed 26 Apr. 2005. -   8. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/122,274, entitled REGIONAL     PROXIMITY FOR SHARED IMAGE DEVICE(S) naming Edward K. Y. Jung;     Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D.     Rinaldo, Jr. as inventors, filed 4 May 2005. -   9. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/129,045, entitled SHARED     IMAGE DEVICE RESOLUTION TRANSFORMATION naming Edward K. Y. Jung;     Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D.     Rinaldo, Jr. as inventors, filed 13 May 2005.

Certain aspects of the present application relate, in general, to sharing mechanisms that allow sharing of images between multiple devices.

In one aspect, a method includes, but is not limited to, obtaining a shared image device energy level for a shared image device; considering a resolution conversion energy to indicate an energy for transforming a resolution of one or more images at least partially relative to the shared image device energy level; and sharing the one or more images with at least one other shared image device, wherein the sharing the one or more images at least partially includes the transforming the resolution of the one or more images. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In one aspect, a method includes, but is not limited to, obtaining an operational capacity for a shared image device; estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of one or more images based at least in part on the obtaining the operational capacity; and sharing the one or more images with the at least one other shared image device in a manner that performs the transformation of the one or more images. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In one aspect, a shared image device includes, but is not limited to, a device energy estimator configurable to estimate an energy value for the shared image device; a resolution conversion energy indicator configurable to indicate whether the shared image device has a sufficient energy to convert a resolution of at least one image; and a sharing mechanism that is configurable to at least partially share the at least one image with at least another shared image device, wherein the sharing mechanism is configurable to convert the resolution of the at least one image. In addition to the foregoing, other shared image device aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In one aspect, a shared image device includes, but is not limited to, an image capture portion configurable to capture at least a portion of an at least one image; a resolution conversion portion configurable to convert a resolution of the at least the portion of the at least one image; and a sharing portion configurable to transfer the at least the portion of the at least one image from the shared image device, wherein the sharing portion is configurable to convert the resolution of the at least the portion of the at least one image. In addition to the foregoing, other shared image device aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In one aspect, a shared image device includes, but is not limited to, a device operational capacity indicator configurable to estimate an operational capacity of the shared image device; an image transformation estimator configurable to estimate whether the shared image device has adequate operational capacity to transform at least one image; and a sharing portion configurable to share the at least one image at the shared image device with at least one other shared image device, wherein the sharing portion is configurable to transform the at least one image. In addition to the foregoing, other shared image device aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In one aspect, an apparatus aspect includes, but is not limited to, means for obtaining an operational capacity for a shared image device; means for estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of one or more images based at least in part on the means for obtaining the operational capacity; and means for sharing the one or more images with at least one other shared image device in a manner that performs the transformation of the one or more images. In addition to the foregoing, other apparatus aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In one or more various aspects, related apparatus and systems include but are not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the herein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, electromechanical system, and/or firmware configured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

In addition to the foregoing, various other method and/or system aspects are set forth and described in the text (e.g., claims and/or detailed description) and/or drawings of the present application.

The foregoing contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes and/or other subject matter described herein will become apparent in the text set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a shared image network including a plurality of shared image devices;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the shared image network that includes a plurality of shared image devices;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of yet another embodiment of the shared image network that includes a plurality of shared image devices;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of yet another embodiment of the plurality of shared image network that includes a plurality of shared image devices;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram including one embodiment of the shared image device;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram including another embodiment of the shared image device;

FIG. 7 is a front view of one embodiment of a shared image system that includes one embodiment of an energy level indicator;

FIG. 8 is the front view of another embodiment of a shared image system that includes another embodiment of an energy level indicator;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a resolution conversion technique that increases resolution;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a resolution conversion technique that decreases resolution;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of yet another embodiment of a resolution conversion technique that increases resolution;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of yet another embodiment of the shared image device connected to another shared image device;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of yet another embodiment of the shared image device;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of still another embodiment of the shared image device;

FIG. 15 shows a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a shared image device having a computer/controller that can be used as a portion of a sharing mechanism;

FIG. 16 shows a generalized front view of one embodiment of a viewfinder or display that can be integrated in a shared image device;

FIGS. 17 a, 17 b and 17 c are flowcharts of one embodiment of a resolution conversion energy technique;

FIGS. 18 a, 18 b, and 18 c are flowcharts of one embodiment of an operational capacity/resource estimating technique;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a resolution conversion technique;

FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of multiple shared image devices including at least one peripheral shared image device;

FIG. 21 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of multiple shared image devices including at least one peripheral shared image device;

FIG. 22 shows a front view of one embodiment of the viewfinder;

FIG. 23 shows a front view of another embodiment of the viewfinder;

FIG. 24 shows a front view of yet another embodiment of the viewfinder;

FIG. 25 shows a front view of still another embodiment of the viewfinder;

FIG. 26 shows a front view of yet another embodiment of the viewfinder;

FIG. 27 shows a front view of yet another embodiment of viewfinder where an image that is being currently captured is being integrated into a number of previously-captured images and

FIG. 28 shows one embodiment of a sharing menu display that act as a portion of a sharing mechanism.

The use of the same symbols in different drawings typically indicates similar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure describes a number of embodiments of a shared image network 100 that can include at least one sharing mechanism 102, such that at least one sharing mechanism 102 can be integrated in, and/or utilized by, at least one shared image device 101. Different embodiments of the shared image network 100 are described with respect to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Certain embodiments of the shared image devices can capture an image and can be visualized as taking or imaging a photograph in certain embodiments. The present disclosure provides a number of these sharing mechanisms 102 by which the shared images can be shared or copied, and can either be transferred to other capturing shared image devices and/or other non-capturing shared image devices. In this disclosure, the term “capture” can apply to either imaging, photographing, or otherwise generating or producing shared images or portions thereof. Different embodiments of the shared image devices 101 can each perform one or more processes including, but not limited to capturing, creating, processing, storing, printing, transferring, obtaining, retaining, displaying, and/or receiving the shared images. Different embodiments of the shared images can be configurable as still images and/or motion images (e.g., moving pictures). Many embodiments of the sharing mechanism 102 can be integrated between one or more shared image device 101.

Within the disclosure, certain embodiments of the shared image devices 101, such as digital cameras, camcorders, etc. that can capture shared image information are referred to as “capturing shared image devices”, which is distinct from those shared image devices 101 that cannot capture shared image information. The capturing shared image devices such as digital cameras, still-picture cameras, motion picture cameras, or camcorders can be applied to photography. Many shared image devices that cannot capture images can be referred to within this disclosure as “peripheral shared image devices” since they perform such peripheral actions as storing, saving, store and forwarding, displaying, projecting and/or otherwise processing data associated with images.

This disclosure can also provide a variety of mechanisms and/or techniques by which an operational capacity of a shared image device can be determined; and/or by which at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of one or more images can be determined. In certain embodiments, the operational capacity can include, but is not limited to, a shared image device energy level indicator, a device battery energy indicator, an available device power indicator, an available device memory indicator (the amount of memory often determines the number of still or motion images that can be captured or processed by a shared image device), and/or another available device(s) computational time indicator, etc. In certain embodiments of the shared image devices, the operational capacities are as described in this disclosure. In certain embodiments, transforming of one or more resources can include, but is not limited to: changing the resolution of one or more images, changing the image exposure of one or more images, modifying the metadata for one or more images, modifying the image content of one or more images, and/or adjusting the image composition of one or more images, etc., as described in this disclosure.

This disclosure can also provide a number of embodiments of mechanisms by which a resolution of one or more shared images contained in a shared image device 101 (configured either as a capturing shared image device and/or peripheral shared image device) can be transformed. As such, in certain embodiments of the shared image devices that contain the shared images having different resolutions, but not others, one or more of the shared image devices can transfer their shared images therebetween following the change of resolution. In addition, certain embodiments of shared image devices may be capable of having multiple versions of one or more images, multiple one of which have different resolutions, depending upon their purpose and/or the particular configuration of the shared image device(s). For example, if the particular shared image device such as a camera or camcorder is being utilized at a child's birthday party, then it may be desirable to have one of the shared image devices configured as a computer, and/or act as a camera-server to contain high-resolution versions of all of the shared image devices occurring during that session. By comparison, other shared image devices may be configured as a capturing shared image device, which may contain only high-resolution images captured by that shared image device, and relatively low-resolution images captured by other shared image devices to, for example, allow more images to be captured or processed. If it is desired for a particular capturing shared image device to download high-resolution versions of images, then in certain instances, but not others, higher-resolution versions of the images can be downloaded from, for example, another camera-server or other shared image device that is storing the higher-resolution images.

Within this disclosure, the term “changing the resolution” of an image may pertain in certain embodiments, but not others, to altering the color values and/or the color intensities of a particular image. As such, increasing the resolution of an image can pertain to increasing the density of pixels, and can result from increasing variable color density values and/or color intensities of certain pixels and/or image regions forming the image. Decreasing the resolution of an image can pertain to decreasing the density of the pixels, and can result from diminishing variable color density values and/or color intensity of certain pixels and/or image regions forming the image. During a resolution conversion process, in certain embodiments of a display or projector, the footprint of pixels can be appropriately altered to effectively change the resolution of the at least one image.

By providing such ability of the shared image devices to download or upload different-resolution versions of one or more images, it allows the shared image network 100 to share images of different resolutions, and/or different-resolution versions of the same images therebetween.

In certain embodiments, but not others, peripheral shared image devices can exercise a certain amount of control over capturing shared image devices. For example, the peripheral shared image device can transmit metadata and/or other image information to the capturing shared image devices to indicate, for example, to capture one or more images of a particular subject, zoom, color intensity, resolution, etc. Additionally, in certain embodiments but not others, shared images can be transmitted from a peripheral shared image device to a capturing shared image device. For example, the peripheral shared image device can be configured to store a large number of images that can be returned to one or more capturing shared image devices upon their request.

In certain embodiments while not others, as described within this disclosure, certain peripheral share image devices can transmit at least some device operation information that can be received by at least one shared image device. The device operation information can be used to vary the operational characteristics of the at least one shared image device. Illustrative examples of operational characteristics of shared image devices that can be varied based on the transmission of the device operation information from the peripheral shared image device can include, but is not limited to operating a shutter mechanism, selecting a location of an image, operating a zoom, and/or focusing the capturing shared image device. As such, transmitting at least some device operation information from a peripheral shared image device to at least one capturing shared image device can effectively alter an operation of the at least one capturing shared image device. In this manner, the transmitting at least some device operation information can affect some control of the peripheral shared image device over the operation of the at least one capturing shared image device.

In certain instances, at least one shared image device can be configured to transmit a captured shared image information, at least partially based on instructions and/or other image information, from the peripheral shared image device to the at least one other shared image device. In other instances, at least one shared image device can be configured to receive either stored shared images and/or shared images either directly or via another intermediate shared image device or other device. As such, the peripheral shared image device in combination with the at least one shared image device (that can capture, or contain, shared information) can, in certain embodiments, alone or in combination, provide a system by which a user, mechanism, or controller at the peripheral shared image device can determine image(s) that are to be transmitted from the at least one shared image device to the peripheral shared image device. For instance, one embodiment including a number of shared image devices may utilize multiple sharing users that are sharing multiple shared images. In one embodiment of the sharing mechanism 102 but not others, the peripheral shared image device can transmit a request for particular images from a particular user, pertaining to a particular subject, including images of a particular color characteristic, or including particular metadata, etc. As such, the peripheral shared image device can effectively transmit a query to one or more capturing shared image devices to return a particular image that may or may not have been captured. Such a query can be responded to using appropriate recognition programs, and the suitable image(s) can be returned to the peripheral shared image device as desired or in an appropriate order to be processed, displayed, analyzed, retained, obtained, and/or projected as appropriate for that particular shared image device. For instance, one or more members of a sharing session, or other individuals, can view multiple images being projected, displayed, printed, retained, etc. by a number of capturing shared image devices that are transmitting certain ones of their shared images to a peripheral shared image device.

Within the disclosure, the terms shared image(s), image(s), image representation(s), image(s), or image information each pertain to full images, portions of images, segments of full images, magnified images, reduced resolution images, thumbnails of images, information that describes particular images such as metadata. Metadata can contain such information as the subject of the image, identifying who took the image, image location, the reference number of the image, etc. Within this disclosure, the terms “image representation” or “image” can pertain (among other things) to images, thumbnails of images, icons that pertain to images, portions of images, images having altered resolution, information pertaining to images such as metadata, etc. The term “obtain” applies to obtaining shared images either by capturing or by data transfer from another shared image device. The term “retain” applies to storing shared images for some duration regardless how temporary or permanent the storage. In this disclosure, the term “broadcast” can apply to one or more of transmitting a shared image from one shared image device in a manner such that the signal can be received by at least one (and usually multiple) other shared image device; transmitting to all other shared image devices, to all other shared image devices in the enrolled in a sharing session, or transmitting to only certain selected shared image devices. Broadcast can also apply to transmitting to shared image devices arranged in a general network, a master-satellite, a server-satellite, a peer-to-peer or point-to-point (alternatively, P2P) network configuration, or another network configuration, certain ones of which are as described in this disclosure.

The terms “shared image devices” or “cameras” can apply to such dissimilar devices as digital cameras, video cameras, and/or camcorders. The shared image device can capture certain embodiments of still images including, but not limited to, photographs or digital images. Certain embodiments of shared image devices such as a camcorder or motion picture video camera can capture motion images such as videos. The shared image devices can integrate a sharing mechanism to either capture, obtain, retain, store, or transfer such shared images. A variety of embodiments of the sharing mechanism can therefore capture or otherwise process, retain, or obtain such exemplary shared images as digital still images or digital motion images that are provided either alone or in combination with video, audio, music, etc.

Examples of shared image devices 101 that are not configurable to capture shared image information can include certain laptop computers, desktop computers, portable image store and display devices, digital video disk (DVD) devices, personal display assistants (PDA), printers, compact disk (CD) drives, IPods (a trademark of Apple Computers and are made commercially available there from), etc. Certain embodiments of portable image store and display devices can be configurable to utilize peer-to-peer communications, and may be capable of transferring shared images there between. Certain embodiments of the shared image devices that cannot capture shared image information operate largely to retain, obtain, store, process, and/or display shared images.

In different embodiments, the sharing mechanism can be configurable to provide a varying degree of automated publishing functions between multiple shared image devices. Certain shared image(s) that are captured by a shared image device can be distributed or transmitted to, and/or received by, other shared image devices, and thereby be “published” and made public (and therefore can be considered to be no longer private). One embodiment of the sharing mechanism 102 allows the shared image device 101 to toggle on/off publishing of the shared images to switch between the images being public and private. In certain embodiments, such publishing can be automatically set for a prescribed duration such as temporally or more permanently defined by a “sharing session”, after which duration the shared image devices each returns to their non-sharing configuration. In other embodiments, the sharing session can be permanent or have a lengthy duration.

Certain embodiments of the shared image device 101 that include at least a portion of the sharing mechanism 102 can be modifiable to provide a variety of functions. Many embodiments of shared image devices that can capture shared images, such as cameras or camcorders, can also function as storage devices to store some data pertaining to shared images. Certain capturing embodiments of shared image devices can also act as a memory acquisition device that obtains or retains pictures from other shared image devices. Other embodiments of the shared image device 101 such as portable image storage and display devices can be configurable as storage devices, in which shared images can be stored, accessed, and/or displayed.

The very structure, nature, or operation of certain embodiments of such shared image devices such as cameras, digital cameras, or camcorders are likely to change as the associated technologies (e.g., displaying, digital signal processing, filtering, etc.) improves. It is likely that digital cameras and/or camcorders will develop greater memory storage capabilities as the associated memory storage technologies improve. In this disclosure, multiple capturing shared image devices and/or multiple peripheral shared image devices could be “networked” in such a manner that a large number of images can be transferred between multiple capturing shared image devices. Certain capturing shared image devices can be optimized for their data storage or processing capabilities, and as such may act somewhat like computer servers. Other capturing shared image devices can be optimized for their photographic or zooming abilities, and as such may be considered as true capturing or shared image devices. As the characteristics and abilities of different shared image devices vary more, the benefits of networking the shared image devices increases as well. Certain sharing concepts, as described herein, enhance the networking aspects of the capturing shared image devices.

The resolution conversion portion can in certain embodiments, but not others, act to alter the resolution of images that might have been captured or otherwise obtained. As described within this disclosure, certain embodiments of the resolution conversion portion may be configurable to increase or decrease the resolution of the image such as by utilizing pixel removal, pixel-interpolation, and/or combination of pixels from multiple image techniques. Different embodiments of the resolution conversion portion are described herein. Within this disclosure, the terms “resolution conversion” and “resampling” can in many instances, but not others, be considered similar since both can utilize processes that can include altering image intensity and/or color values of the image. Resampling can in certain embodiments, but not others, be equated to increasing or decreasing the resolution of at least a portion of an image. Resampling can, in certain embodiments but not others, be implemented by respectively adding or removing pixels from a given image as described in this disclosure.

One embodiment of a shared image network 100 as described with respect to the block diagram of FIG. 5 is described with respect to FIG. 6. One embodiment of the shared image network 100 can include a shared image device 101, an optional peripheral shared image device 120, and an optional communication link 104. The shared image device 101 can be configurable to capture images. In different embodiments, the shared image device 101 can be alternatively configured as, but not limited to, a digital camera, a camcorder, a cellular phone with picture taking capabilities, a computer or PDA with image processing and/or picture taking capabilities, a printer, an image display etc. The shared image device 101 can be operationally sub-divided into an imaging portion 615 and data storage portion 614. Different embodiments of the shared image device 101 can capture, photograph, image, print, display, save, store-and-forward, or otherwise process a variety of images including, but not limited to, still images, motion images, video, audio, thumbprints, or other information relating to the images such as metadata. Different embodiments of the shared image device 101 can be configured to capture, obtain, retain, or otherwise process a variety of images including, but not limited to, color images, grayscale images, etc.

In this disclosure, “subscribing” pertains to a user joining their shared image device (which, in different embodiments, can be configured either as a capturing shared image device or as a peripheral shared image device) in a session to provide shared images to and/or receive shared images from other shared image devices. In certain embodiments of the shared image device, it can be desired to subscribe to different functions using different mechanisms. While any combination of particular functions may be described with respect to this disclosure, this disclosure is intended to describe other shared image devices that can perform varied or alternative functions.

Certain embodiments of shared image devices 101 provide a mechanism by which certain shared image devices that are enrolled in a sharing session may not share every image that it is being captured. For example, certain images captured by a particular shared image device may be considered as private, and therefore may not be used in certain embodiments for general distribution during a sharing session with other member shared image devices. Certain communication links 104 that connect between pairs of shared image devices can be private in one direction while public in another direction, public in both directions, or private in both directions. For example, it may be desired to configure a communication link from a capturing shared image device to a peripheral shared image device to be either public or private; while the communication link from the peripheral shared image device to the capturing shared image device can be the reverse or the same.

Certain embodiments of shared image devices 101 can provide such operations as, but are not limited to: performing active sharing between multiple shared image devices, temporarily pausing or muting the active sharing, resuming the active sharing after temporarily pausing or muting, connecting with other devices and/or people, or temporarily performing or delaying a variety of operations. Such temporary pausing or muting of sharing operations may be equated to temporarily halting a subscription for a particular shared image device; and in many embodiments the shared images that were shared during this pausing or muting period can be transmitted or collected after the pausing or muting. Other aspects and concerns of sharing the shared images can relate to managing the shared image devices. Examples of these tasks include controlling and selecting image resolution, allowing shared images to exit a particular shared image device but not enter the same shared image device, or vice versa.

It is to be understood that certain embodiments of the shared image device 101 can be configurable in a variety of network configurations, for example as described in this disclosure with respect to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, or 4. These network configurations are illustrative in nature, and not limiting scope. Additionally, the multiple shared image devices that are included in a particular network can frequently change their association and operation. For example, the sharing mechanism 102 as described with respect to FIG. 1 can during a particular time period involve the left-most satellite shared image device 101 b transmitting a shared image to the master shared image device 101 a. The master shared image device 101 a can thereupon transmit another shared image to another one of the satellite shared image devices 101 b during a subsequent period. As such, the communications or networked configurations of multiple embodiments of the shared image devices can be fluid, changeable, and reliable to transfer a variety of shared images (that may be captured by one or more shared image devices) in a substantially controllable fashion.

Certain embodiments of shared image devices 101, as described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4, can each include a portion of a share mechanism 102, such as a share button, that the owner of the shared image device 101 can actuate by such action as physically pressing. An actuating portion of a sharing mechanism can act to join a number of shared image devices during a particular sharing session, and/or possibly perform some other function(s) relative to the sharing session. Actuating portions of certain embodiments of share mechanisms 102 can be conveniently located on some external casing of a digital camera or camcorder, or some other such location for easy actuation. Certain embodiments of the share mechanisms 102 can include those components and/or processes that allow one shared image device to share and/or copy images with at least one other shared image device during a particular sharing session.

In another embodiment, a share mechanism 102 can be included in a computer/controller based program to control the sharing process between multiple shared image devices. As such, certain embodiments of share mechanisms 102 can integrate a plurality of shared image devices, since more than one shared image device are involved in sharing images. Such a share mechanism can include an actuating portion that can actuate the sharing mechanism between a number of shared image devices, a graphical user interface (GUI) or computer display that can display copies of the shared images to the users across multiple shared image devices, and an authentication or authorization portion that can provide authentication or authorization between multiple shared image devices.

A number of other embodiments of the actuating portion of the sharing mechanism can differ considerably from a manually-actuated shared mechanism (such as a share button) to more automatic type devices. Certain embodiments of such shared image devices can rely on proximity between shared image devices. Certain embodiments of the sharing mechanism 102 can utilize near-field shared image devices that are within a prescribed range that can be automatically actuated to copy and/or share the shared image information. In certain embodiments, the actuating portion of the share mechanism can even be remotely positioned from the associated shared image device 101, such as in a remote-control of the type that is in common usage for television, etc.

In another embodiment as described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4, physical contact may actuate a share mechanism 102 within plurality of shared image devices 101. A Java ring (as produced and made commercially available by Dallas Semiconductor) provides an example of a commercially available actuating mechanism that can transmit data between numerous devices resulting from physical contact of those devices. An embodiment of a share mechanism 102 can include a Java ring or other similar device to automate actuation of many aspects of sharing images between multiple shared image devices 101. In certain embodiments, the actuating portion of the share mechanism can be positioned remotely from the associated shared image device 101, such as is well known in a remote control of the type that is in common usage for television, etc.

Examples of Shared Image Devices Relying on Proximity

In certain embodiments, various users can thereby transfer video, images, or some other type of information based on the proximity of shared image devices 101. Any combination of a plurality of capturing shared image device(s) and/or peripheral shared image device(s) can utilize proximity therebetween to establish the sharing mechanism 102. A variety of embodiments of the shared image device 101 can thereby rely on a variety of types of proximity between multiple sharing ones of the shared image devices to allow their sharing such as described in the above-incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/069,909. Regional proximity pertains to a proximity of at least one shared image device within a sharing region, such as described in the above-incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/122,274, entitled REGIONAL PROXIMITY FOR SHARED IMAGE DEVICE(S). The embodiment of geographic proximity, proximity utilizing a communication link 104, and/or proximity utilizing passwords, pass-phrases, patterns on paper, and the like as described within this disclosure with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4 can vary, and serve as examples of proximity between shared image devices.

A variety of embodiments of the shared image network 100 are described herein such that a number of shared image devices 101 are contained within a sharing region 103. Within this disclosure, the sharing region 103 can represent two-dimensional or three-dimensional geographic area or volume in which the shared image devices are intended to operate. The sharing region can be set differently in a variety of embodiments such as, for example, for a time duration, or for as long as a shared image device, or another device, is positioned proximately of the sharing region. In certain embodiments, a particular user can set up a sharing region as desired based on, for example, global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, field of view of one or more shared image devices, defined locating relative to a particular building or structure, etc. A variety of configurations of sharing regions 103 (see, e.g., FIG. 1) are described herein, including those sharing regions that are established with respect to a shared image device, those sharing regions that are established with respect to a fixed area, and/or those sharing regions that are established with respect to a combination of a shared image device and a fixed area. If in certain embodiments, positional information such as provided by a global positioning system (GPS), LORAN, etc., can be utilized to determine positional coordinates of the sharing region.

In certain embodiments, any shared image device of the type being utilized by the sharing session that is within the sharing region may be allowed to join the sharing session. In other embodiments, the user of the shared image device may have to provide a password to join the sharing session. In still other embodiments, the user of shared image device can provide a sharing password in addition to being within the sharing region to join the sharing session. As such, there are a variety of permissible techniques that can be utilized to join the sharing session, that are within the intended scope of the present disclosure.

In certain instances, but not others, a particular sharing region 103 as described with respect to FIG. 1 may be temporarily and/or geographically defined to correspond to a particular sharing session. As such, a sharing session may be established relative to a particular geographic location for a particular duration, such as within a child's house for a duration of a birthday party, or within a reception area for a duration of a wedding. In certain instances but not others, the sharing region in the sharing session can thereby be geographically related to the particular area for the duration of the session, such as a particular person's house, park, building, commercial setting, sports event, business event, etc.

In many embodiments, the term “proximity” indicates that shared image devices 101 are sufficiently close to operably couple with each other and/or other devices within the sharing region, such as to establish a communication link 104. In certain embodiments, a wireless link can provide the geographic proximity that allows data transfer of the shared images or portions thereof.

In one embodiment, the multiple shared image devices 101 can operably couple within the shared image network 100 using a series of communication links 104; different embodiments of the communication links are described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4. A variety of embodiments of optical communication links 104 are within the intended scope of the present disclosure. Different embodiments of the communication link 104 can include, for example: a wireless link, an 802.11-based link, an infra-red data transfer link, a wired-based link, a physical-contact sharing mechanism that can transmit data upon physical contact, or any other type of link that allows for sufficient data to be transmitted between pairs of shared image devices 101.

Certain embodiments of the wireless communication link can utilize a variety of electromagnetic radiation to transmit data. The electromagnetic radiation that provides one embodiment of the wireless communication link 104 can include, but is not limited to, infrared, ultraviolet, near infrared, and/or optical signals. In one embodiment, a devoted optical communication link can cause data corresponding to the images to be transmitted between respective shared image devices. The communication link 104 can be configurable, in one embodiment, to operably couple a transmitting shared image device to a receiving shared image device. The transmitter, receiver, and/or transceiver portions of the communication link are to be configurable to carry sufficient data over the communication link considering the current task and/or network configuration.

In another embodiment, a camera flash can act as a communication link. The intensity of the camera flash can be modulated between different levels (including, but not limited to, turning the flash on and off) to transfer a variety of shared image data. Such directing of the optical flash in a suitable direction should act such that reflected light does not interfere with the modulated incident light produced by the camera flash.

One advantage of using certain embodiments of the camera flash or other such wireless link is that multiple receiving shared image devices can simultaneously obtain shared images from a single transmitting shared image device (e.g., by the multiple receiving shared image devices receiving the same camera flash or other optical-link that is configured to transmit data substantially simultaneously).

In many embodiments of the interrelated shared image devices 101 as described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4, the authentication of multiple shared image devices 101 implies that the shared image devices 101 be sufficiently closely spaced (considering the technology to be utilized) to allow communications therebetween and/or within the sharing region, such as over the particular communication links. The shared image devices can rely on authentication and/or authorization to share images, image information, etc. with other shared image devices. Such authentication and/or authorization can often be inferred by geographic proximity, password proximity, and/or other types of proximity as described within this disclosure between multiple ones of the shared image devices depending upon the particular situation (while in other embodiments, this is not true). As such, in certain embodiments, shared image devices 101 that are associated with a particular wedding, children's birthday party, business meeting, or other event, etc. may establish the implicit/explicit authorization or authentication between multiple shared image devices. Such authorization or authentication may be based at least partially on the geographic (e.g., physical) proximity between shared image devices, and at least partially result from those shared image devices being located at the same event or sharing session, as/or within the sharing region. In many instances, the level of authentication or authorization for many shared image device events, such as birthday parties, may be assumed to be relatively low, while in others it may not be. Many of the concepts described herein can expand into other forms of geographic or temporal proximity depending upon the particular technology to be used.

Different embodiments of geographic-based proximity can range to a variety of dimensions including from within inches, to in the same room, to within the same building, to capable of accessing the same wireless LAN, to in the same stadium or part of a city, or beyond depending upon the technologies associated with the particular application or the communication link. In considering the application of certain commercially available transmitter/receiver capabilities, Bluetooth (a trademark of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, a trade association) has an effective range of approximately 10 meters. Wireless Fidelity (WiFi, refers in this disclosure generically to any type of 802.11 network) can be located in a house or building, and can have an arbitrarily large range (especially by locating replicators or repeaters in each communication link 104 between multiple pairs of shared image devices 101). As such, shared image devices 101 can effectively communicate to each other through relatively extensive communication links 104 of variable dimensions. If a particular shared image device 101 has WiFi capabilities, the shared image device can have access to the Internet.

If the shared image network 100 is established as a close-proximity shared image network, each user can be provided with their individual “shared image device” 101 that can each be somehow proximally located with respect to the sharing image network during its sharing session. Each shared image device can be configurable to join the sharing session, and thereby synchronize their shared image device 101 to the current shared image devices.

In certain embodiments but not others, one shared image device 101 can continuously have its sharing mechanism actuated as to be in a sharing state. For example, a user can walk into a room, a building, and outside area, or another two-dimensional or three-dimensional area that contains a number of friends or associates that are currently enrolled in the sharing session, position the new shared image device 101 within the proximity of at least one of their shared image devices, and the shared images can be transferred utilizing such a technique such as being synchronized or quick-synched to the new shared image device 101 over the communications link. Such areas can be described relatively to some geographical area (e.g., a sharing region, relative to one or more other shared image devices, or relative to a field of view from a particular at least one shared image device).

Certain commercially-available cellular phones include embedded cameras (therefore providing photographic capabilities) that can be configurable such that the images are transferred from that camera cellular phone to at least one other camera cellular phone, at least one land-phone, or at least one other receiving device using either a wireless, or some other suitable, connection. Many of these commercially-available camera cellular phones can thereby be considered to “push” one or more images to another device (such as a cellular phone, a computer, a personal display assistant (PDA), etc.) with a display. Such transfer mechanisms that “push” these pictures utilize the Internet, e-mail, or a similar file-transfer addressing mechanism (e.g., e-mail address or some associated addressing scheme). In certain embodiments, addressing the data associated with photographs can take some time, while in other embodiments such addressing is simplified. Addressing can be challenging in situations where the address of the recipient shared image device 101 is unknown or inaccessible. Certain embodiments of shared image devices can utilize addressing mechanisms.

Many embodiments of shared image devices 101, as described in this disclosure with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4, that include the sharing mechanisms 102 can transfer copies of shared images to at least one other shared image device 101. Such transfer of copies of shared images can thereby allow accessing of certain images, videos, audio, and/or other types of media produced by the other shared image devices 101 during a prescribed sharing session. Many embodiments of shared image devices 101 do not provide an addressing mechanism to transfer the shared images between different ones of the sharing devices (e.g., capturing and/or peripheral devices) during a particular sharing session. As such, a broadcast transfers data between many of the embodiments of the shared image devices. FIGS. 1 to 4 show a number of embodiments of the shared image networks 100, each of the sharing image networks can include a number of similarly configured shared image devices 101, in which each of the shared image devices includes its respective sharing mechanism 102.

Within this disclosure, many embodiments of capturing shared image devices can be considered as similarly configured while others are not. Similarly, any embodiments of peripheral shared image devices can be considered as similarly configured while others are not. In this disclosure, the terms “similarly configured”, “similarly configurable”, or alternatively “similar” as applied to many embodiments of the shared image devices 101, can pertain to how each shared image device 101 processes or relates to its respective shared images. For example, certain embodiments of digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras, etc. can be configurable as capturing shared image devices that are capable of capturing, transferring, retaining, or obtaining such shared images as still images or motion images. In the embodiment as described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, shared image devices 101 are each configurable to be similar in general structure or operation, such that each shared image device is configurable as a capturing device such as a digital camera or camcorder that can be connected using, for example, point-to-point techniques or master-satellite techniques. Each capturing shared image device can capture, photograph, display, generate, receive, or process similar shared images such as digital images or video.

In many imaging situations, the resolution, imaging quality, and imaging characteristics of shared images are dependent on that particular shared image device that is performing the imaging. As such, even though shared image information may be shared between multiple shared image devices, the imaging quality of that shared image depends on the particular shared image device that images or captures (e.g., photographs) the shared information. As such, it may be desirable to capture many of the images with a high-quality shared image device (e.g., a relatively expensive high resolution imaging device) by using a number of shared image devices of the types as described in this disclosure.

Under different circumstances, certain users of the shared image devices may desire to store a relatively large number of captured images within their shared image device. As such, it may be desirable to utilize lower-resolution shared image devices to capture lower-resolution versions of certain images.

In certain instances, an optimal resolution of the images that may be captured by the different shared image device(s) may not be a deciding factor for a potential user selecting to share images with a particular shared image device. Perhaps a particularly good photographer is using a particular shared image device. Alternately, perhaps a shared image device is capturing a particularly desirable subject. Perhaps a particular shared image device can take excellent pictures under certain circumstances, for some known or unknown reason. Certain capturing shared image devices may rely upon an optical or a software-base zooming technique. As such, many participants in the sharing session may be interested in obtaining such shared images based on their inherent quality or value.

The combination of the shared image devices for a particular sharing session, as described in this disclosure, provides a technique by which one or more particular shared image devices can be selected to capture a particular shared image of a type such that shared image device may be the most appropriate.

Many embodiments of digital cameras can capture, process, display, generate, or receive digital images. Certain peripheral shared image devices 120 (e.g., printers, fax machines, PDAs, copiers, etc.) may generally be considered as a peripheral device, and not a similar device to digital cameras since such peripheral shared image devices cannot capture shared images, and can only perform such peripheral functions as printing, retaining, or displaying shared images. A sharing mechanism may be configurable to convey shared image information either alone, or in combination with audio, data, or a variety of other types of information as described herein.

The embodiment of the shared image network 100, described with respect to FIG. 1, can be referred to as a master-satellite configuration since one of the shared image devices 101 is designated as, and acts as, a master shared image device 101 a for a particular sharing session. The master shared image device can receive the shared images generated either alone and/or with other ones of the satellite shared image devices 101 b that are designated in FIGS. 1 and 3 as 101 b. The satellite shared image devices 101 b can be operatively coupled to the master shared image device 101 a such that in the certain embodiments. Certain ones of the portions of the shared images, that may have been captured or created by the shared image devices 101, can be shared as desired among the satellite shared image devices 101 b.

In certain embodiments, the satellite shared image devices 101 b can also receive certain ones of the shared images that have been captured by other ones of the shared image devices 101. Certain embodiments of such satellite shared image devices can receive lower resolution versions of the received shared images that have been captured during the sharing session.

In the embodiments of the shared image network 100 that is described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 3, each similar satellite shared image device 101 b can be operably coupled to the respective master shared image device 101 a or computer or controller 603 (e.g. of FIGS. 6 and/or 15) by, for example, a respective signal connection such as the communication link 104. The communication link can be functionally subdivided into a transmitter portion and/or a receiver portion, or alternatively a transceiver portion that is secured to each shared image device. Certain embodiments of the master shared image devices 101 a can thereby control, to some degree, the shared images that can be received by each particular satellite shared image devices 101 b. In other embodiments of the shared image network 100 that include a master shared image device 101 a; a signal connection such as the communication link 104 can also extend between certain ones of the satellite-shared image devices 101 b.

Each communication link 104 should provide sufficient bandwidth to ensure effective transfer of the shared images (e.g., images, portions of the images, metadata, video segments, and/or video stills) between the appropriate shared image devices 101. Providing such effective shared image transfer can ensure satisfactory operation of the shared image network 100 as described in this disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a peer-to-peer shared image network 100, in which each shared image device 101 can connect to at least one other shared image device by at least one communication link 104. In certain embodiments of the peer-to-peer shared image network 100, indirect connections (such as multiple communication links 104) can extend, in series, between multiple pairs of shared image devices. Such communication links 104 can therefore transmit shared images between multiple pairs of serially-extending shared image devices 101 or over multiple serially-extending communication links 104.

The embodiment of the shared image network 100, as described with respect to FIG. 2, includes a number of shared image devices 101 that may act as a peer-to-peer network. Certain embodiments of peer-to-peer shared image networks can be configurable in which each shared image device can perform both those functions that are traditionally associated with a server device and those functions that are traditionally associated with a client device. As such, in many embodiments, shared images can pass between different ones of the peer-to-peer arranged shared image devices relatively freely as to be available to any member shared image device of a particular sharing session.

In certain embodiments of the shared image network 100, each shared image device 101 can be configurable to be capable of accessing the shared images captured by other ones of shared image devices 101 during the sharing session.

As described with respect to FIG. 2, the peer-to-peer configuration may be desired for relatively simple device configuration, set-up, and use; and may also be desirable since no mechanism can be provided in certain embodiments to reduce the number of shared images that are being transmitted by any one of shared image devices 101. Certain embodiments of the peer-to-peer model may be easier to implement since with the peer-to-peer model, each shared image device 101 (such as a digital camera) can be configurable to operate similarly to the other shared image devices. In many instances with the peer-to-peer model, no single shared image device overviews the entire operation of the shared image network. Instead, all the shared image devices interact to provide the sharing, according to peer-to-peer concepts. For example, the different shared image devices in a peer-to-peer network can be configurable to operate similarly, and can be configurable to act as either a client and/or a server at any suitable particular time during shared image network operations.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the shared image network 100 that includes a number of shared image devices 101. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment as described with respect to FIG. 1, with the exception that the master shared image device 101 a can be configured as a dissimilar device such as a peripheral device, e.g., a computer or controller 603 of FIG. 6 or 15 instead of another type of shared image device 101. In different embodiments, the computer or controller 603 may be configured as any type of recognized computing device including, but not limited to: a desktop, a laptop, a workstation, a personal display assistant (PDA), a microprocessor, a microcomputer, etc. The computer or controller 603, as well as other shared image devices, can provide a store-and-forward operation by controllably storing for some duration (regardless of how temporary or permanent is the duration), optionally processing, and then forwarding the shared images. There can additionally be intermediate shared image devices, or other devices, located between multiple shared image devices. Under certain circumstances, especially where there are a considerable number of shared image devices generating many shared images, the FIG. 3 embodiment that relies on the computer or controller 603 to provide processing, filtering, etc. may be desired. Such networking concepts relating to computers, clients, servers, and data transfer between computers as are generally well-known, and will not be further detailed in this disclosure. One purpose of the computer or controller 603 with respect to the shared image network 100 is to obtain or retain the shared images generated by the other shared image devices 101, and thereupon provide for the retrieval of the generated shared images.

Certain computers acting as servers might be named based on the data that they can store or produce (e.g., file servers, data servers, web page servers, etc.). As such, certain embodiments of the computer or controller 603 as described with respect to FIG. 3 can act as a shared image server. One aspect of using certain embodiments of the computer or controller 603 instead of certain embodiments of master shared image device 101 a (in a master/satellite configuration) is that certain embodiments of the computer or controller 603 is likely to be configurable to allow more varied image processing, data handling, or other operations.

As such, certain ones of the satellite shared image devices 101 b can be configurable as the computer or controller 603 to be capable of handling queries relatively quickly and accurately. In certain embodiments, the users of certain shared image devices 101 can therefore include queries directed to the particulars of the sought shared images. Another advantage of certain computers or controllers 603 is that the storage capability of certain embodiments of the computers or controllers can substantially match a value of the number of captured shared images during a sharing session.

Example of Proximity-Based Sharing Technique

This disclosure described a number of embodiments of proximity-based sharing techniques. One embodiment of a proximity-based sharing technique utilizes a computer or controller of the type described with respect to FIGS. 6 and 15. Within the disclosure, flowcharts of the type described in this disclosure apply to method steps as performed by a computer or controller. The flowcharts can also apply to apparatus devices, such as a shared image device 101 that includes, e.g., a general-purpose computer or specialized-purpose computer whose structure along with the software, firmware, electromechanical devices, and/or hardware, can perform the process or technique described in the flowchart.

Since multiple shared image devices can share data (at least one that sends the shared image information and at least one that receives the shared image information), each shared image device can form a portion of the sharing mechanism. In certain embodiments, actuating the actuating mechanism of a sharing mechanism can cause a particular shared image device to share or publish to other similar shared image devices. Such sharing or publishing can occur even if there is not another shared image device in sufficiently close geographic proximity, based largely on inclusions of additional shared image devices (each of which includes a store-and-forward mechanism). The additional shared image devices can be configurable to allow serial data transmission through a sequence of such intermediate located shared image devices that operatively couple the terminal shared image devices. The store-and-forward mechanism can temporarily store data in one of these shared image devices, and can generate copies of stored shared images in the form of data from that shared image device following a desired prescribed duration.

Under certain circumstances, only one shared image device may be a member of a session. For example, if a user of a particular shared image device 101 is the first one to join a sharing session (e.g., get to an event), then that first user may capture pertinent images, and the sharing mechanism allows others to access the pictures captured by the first user of a shared image device 101 at that sharing session. As such, at one particular time, only a single shared image device may join the sharing session, and effect sharing or copying of the shared images. Prior to a wedding or child's birthday, for example, a professional photographer may capture a number of images that pertain to preliminary events of that sharing session, and which would perhaps be desirable to other session members who would join that sharing session. In another instance, a leader of a business meeting may prepare a set of shared images prior to the meeting that relate to the meeting, and which would subsequently be accessible by other members of the meeting.

In other embodiments, at least two shared image devices 101 might establish a particular sharing session. For example, assume that multiple shared image devices can be configurable as disposable cameras whose session shared images can be shared, processed, and/or made accessible. In certain embodiments, but not others, multiple shared image devices (such as those of the disposable variety) can be sold together to be associated with a prescribed sharing session, such as a birthday, wedding, business event, etc.

Other embodiments of shared image devices are likely to be associated with a single owner for a longer duration, and can be provided with a controllable sharing mechanism to allow multiple shared image devices to be controllably configurable to interface with each other for a distinct duration of, e.g., a distinct sharing session. Many embodiments of the shared image devices can be controllably adjustably configurable to allow the shared image device to join another session. In certain embodiments a single shared image device can perhaps even join multiple simultaneous sharing sessions.

In considering certain embodiments of the master-satellite configuration as described with respect to FIG. 1, the master shared image device (and perhaps not the satellite shared image device) can originally access the full resolution versions of the shared images as captured by each shared image device. In certain embodiments, satellite shared image devices can be provided with lower-resolution shared image versions such as, but not limited to: thumbnails of the shared images, portions of the shared images, miniaturized portions of the shared images, low-resolution versions of the shared images, metadata pertaining to the shared images, etc. The users at the satellite shared image devices (that can be configured either as capturing and/or peripheral shared image devices) can then select those shared images that they desire to obtain or retain.

The particular configuration of shared image devices and the shared images can largely represent a design choice based on intended usage, and networking or device configurations and operating characteristics. These particular configurations can be selected depending upon the particular sharing session, event type, shared image device 101 type or other operational characteristic, and can be selected by the “owner” or other participants of each particular sharing session. In some embodiments where a satellite shared image device has insufficient memory storage to store the full versions of the shared images that have been captured for a particular sharing session, the master shared image device can be provided with sufficient data storage to contain the full versions of the shared images that are being captured during the sharing session.

In certain embodiments but not others, at least some of the shared images that are being stored at the master shared image device will have the highest resolution available so that when the full images are requested from the at least certain other ones of the shared image devices, the full images can be provided.

In certain embodiments of the shared image networks of shared image devices 101 (while not with other embodiments), one purpose is to ensure those shared images captured by each one of shared image devices have been accessed, captured, stored, printed out, or has undergone some desired action. As such, in certain embodiments, each shared image device 101 may not obtain all the copies of each shared image generated by every shared image device for that sharing session. As such, in certain embodiments, it may be useful for a user of at least one shared image device 101 to provide a peripheral device (such as a printer or portable image storage device such as a CD drive) at a sharing session. The peripheral device may thereupon print and/or obtain and/or retain the desired shared images for each user of the member shared image devices 101 that are associated with the sharing session who wish to have the images in printed or stored form.

In one embodiment, a shared image device 101 can include a timeout mechanism for many, all, or certain sharing sessions. As such, if a user of a shared image device 101 leaves the sharing session, and they forget to deactivate the sharing mechanism, then the timeout mechanism can deactivate the shared image device with respect to the sharing session after a prescribed amount of time. Certain embodiments of the sharing session can include multiple shared image devices 101 that each includes a timeout mechanism such that the sharing session terminates soon after the last member of the sharing session (and their shared image device) leaves the proximity of the session.

Examples of Sharing Images with Peripheral Shared Image Devices

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the shared image network 100 that can include a number of shared image devices 550, in which many of shared image devices 550 are incapable of capturing images and are thereby are in many ways dissimilar from those embodiments of the capturing shared image devices. As described with respect to FIG. 4, one or more shared image devices 550 that are configurable as a peripheral shared image device can be contained within a peripheral shared image device portion 532. The number of shared image devices 550 that are included within the peripheral shared image device portion 532 as described with respect to FIG. 4 provides a number of examples of peripheral shared image devices. Additionally, one or more shared image device 550 that is configurable as a capturing shared image device can be contained within a capturing shared image device portion 530. The number of shared image devices 550 that are included within the capturing shared image device portion 530 as described with respect to FIG. 4 provides multiple examples of capturing shared image devices. Those shared image devices that are contained within the capturing shared image device portion 530 can be configurable as capturing shared image devices, to primarily capture images (e.g., capture images, image information, or photographs). Those shared image devices that are contained within the peripheral shared image device portion 532 can be configurable as peripheral shared image devices, which are primarily configurable to perform some other function to the shared images from capturing including, but not limited to, obtaining, retaining, storing, displaying, transferring, printing, segmenting, and otherwise processing. Certain shared image devices 101, such as a peripheral shared image device 550 (for example a memory drive device or computer) as contained within the peripheral shared image device portion 532, or alternately, certain capturing shared image devices 550 as contained within the capturing shared image device portion 530, are configurable to store and/or store and forward the shared images.

FIG. 4 provides an example of a network configuration including a plurality of shared image devices 101 in which at least one device operation of a capturing shared image device (e.g., which are contained in the capturing shared image device portion 530) can be controlled by one or more peripheral shared image devices. Such control can be contained in the peripheral shared image device portion 532. Examples of the device operation that can be controlled include, but are not limited to, altering an operation, altering a shutter control operation, altering resolution control, altering zoom control, altering an imaging-location-control operation (which can control where a remote camera and/or the user thereof is taking an image), etc. In effect, this disclosure provides a mechanism by which control device operations such as are performed in capturing shared image devices can be allowed in certain embodiments of remote shared image devices, such as certain peripheral shared image devices.

For example, it may be desired to couple a capturing shared image device such as a digital camera or camcorder with one or more peripheral shared image devices such as a printer, a projector, a computer, and/or a CD burner. Such a combination of dissimilar shared image devices might, or might not, be associated with a similar combination of shared image devices. For example, one or more shared image devices such as a digital camera can be associated with a dissimilar shared image device such as a printer, computer, or projector either for a particular sharing session or permanently.

Alternatively, one or more capturing shared image devices such as a digital camera or camcorder can be associated with a dissimilar shared image device such as a printer, computer, or projector. Each of these dissimilar shared image devices may be capable of utilizing the shared images in a distinct manner. However, each of the shared image devices 550 could also share similar shared images relating to a single group sharing session (such as digital images) in its own distinct manner.

In certain embodiments, the printer, or other peripheral shared image device, can be configured as a peer in a peer-to-peer configuration, or alternately as a master or satellite in a master-satellite configuration, during the sharing session. For example, one shared image device can be configurable as a capturing shared image device such as a digital camera or camcorder at the session to capture shared images from other capturing shared image devices as described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4. In certain embodiments, but not others, the users can access other pictures based on the thumbnails or other reduced-resolution versions of the shared images that are provided. As such, a printer peripheral device can be used to print out, or a memory device can store, a certain number of the thumbnails, portion of images, or full-sized shared images that can be selected by the user at one or more of the shared image devices 550. A projector can be configurable as a peripheral device that can project a variety of images relating to that session, as well as other images in certain embodiments. Peripheral shared image devices that can be configurable as a printer can print selected shared images from that same group sharing session. Yet other peripheral shared image devices that can be configurable as a CD burner or storage can more permanently store image information for a particular session.

From a high-level aspect and embodiment, a variety of distinct types of shared image devices can therefore utilize the sharing mechanism. As such, a single user might actuate a single sharing mechanism to cause a sharing of images between the printer and the digital camera (or other examples of commonly-controlled peripheral or capturing shared image devices). In certain embodiments, peripheral shared image device(s) can be networked with one or more capturing shared image devices that are owned by multiple users at a given sharing session. Consider that in some embodiments but not others, both the peripheral shared image device (e.g., printer) and at least some of the capturing shared image devices (e.g., digital cameras) rely upon the same sharing mechanism for the sharing session. In certain embodiments but not others, a peripheral shared image device that can be configurable as a shared image-server, that could function to transfer stored image data back to another computer, could include a sharing mechanism with the other computer.

A variety of peripheral shared image device(s) 101 can store or display shared images that are produced by the capturing shared image device. In certain embodiments, a peripheral device such as a projector or television shared image device 101 can be associated with a digital camera or camcorder capturing shared image device to provide a slide show or movie including the shared images provided by the latter. In other embodiments, a digital video disk (DVD) recorder can burn a CD containing shared images provided by a digital camera or camcorder shared image device. These different embodiments of shared image devices that can be configurable as capturing and/or peripheral shared image devices can still be considered as dissimilar in certain aspects but perhaps not in other aspects.

Examples of the Computer/Controller

FIGS. 6 and 15 show two embodiments of computer/controller 603 that can be included in certain embodiments of the shared image device 101 to assist in providing the sharing of at least portions of shared images between multiple shared image devices. For example, each one of the two shared image devices 101 as described with respect to FIGS. 6 and 15, provides an example of either a peripheral shared image device and/or a capturing shared image device. As such, in different embodiments, two capturing shared image devices can be operably coupled to each other, two peripheral shared image devices can be operably coupled to each other; or one peripheral shared image device can be operably coupled to a capturing shared image device in a manner that allows transmitting image information at, or receiving image information at each or both of the shared image devices 101.

As described within this disclosure, multiple ones of the different embodiments of the shared image devices 101 are able to transfer image information, one or more portions of images, etc. to each other via the communication link 104. One embodiment of the computer/controller 603 includes a processor 605 such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory 607, a circuit or circuit portion 609, and an input output interface (I/O) 611 that may include a bus (not shown). Different embodiments of the computer/controller 603 can be a general-purpose computer, a specific-purpose computer, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a personal display assistant (PDA), and/or any other known suitable type of computer or controller that can be implemented in hardware, software, electromechanical devices, and/or firmware. Certain portions of the computer/controller 603 can be physically or operably configurable in each shared image device as described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4. In one embodiment, the processor 605 as described with respect to FIGS. 6 and 15 performs the processing and arithmetic operations for the computer/controller 603. The computer/controller 603 controls the signal processing, database querying and response, computational, timing, data transfer, and other processes associated with the shared image device. In certain embodiments, one more simplified version of the controller 603 that can be provided with respect to FIG. 6, and that could be configured to provide a transfer of shared images between multiple shared image devices.

Certain embodiments of the memory 607 include random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM) that together store the computer programs, operands, and other parameters that control the operation of the shared image device. The memory 607 can be configurable to contain the shared image information obtained, retained, or captured by that particular shared image device 101 (that may be configurable in different embodiments as the peripheral shared image device of the capturing shared image device).

The bus is configurable to provide for digital information transmissions between the processor 605, circuits 609, memory 607, I/O 611, and/or the image storage device 1503. In this disclosure, the memory 607 can be configurable as RAM, flash memory, semiconductor-based memory, of any other type of memory that is configurable to store data pertaining to images. The bus also connects I/O 611 to the portions of the shared image devices that either receive digital information from, or transmit digital information to other portions of the shared image network 100.

Certain embodiments of the shared image device 101 as described with respect to FIGS. 6 and 15 includes a transmitter portion (not shown) that can be either included as a portion of the computer/controller 603, or alternately can be provided as a separate unit (e.g., microprocessor-based). In certain embodiments, the transmitter portion can transmit image information between different shared image devices over wired and/or wireless communication links.

Certain embodiments of the shared image device 101 as described with respect to FIGS. 6 and 15 includes an operation altering portion (not shown) that can be either included as a portion of the computer/controller 603, or alternately can be provided as a separate unit (e.g., microprocessor-based). Examples of operation altering portions include, but are not limited to, altering a resolution, altering a contextual library, altering an aspect ratio, altering a color intensity and/or brightness at a second shared image device (such as a capturing shared image device) by transmitting appropriate image information from a first shared image device (such as a peripheral shared image device).

The memory 607 can provide one example of a memory storage portion. In certain embodiments, the monitored value includes, but is not limited to: a percentage of the memory 607, a number of images that are stored in the memory 607, or for motion images a recording interval (audio or video recording intervals).

To provide for overflow ability for the memory 607 of certain embodiments of the shared image device 101, the image storage device 1503 as described with respect to FIG. 15 can operably couple to the memory 607 to allow a controllable transmitting of memory data from the shared image device 101 to the image storage device when the monitored value of data within the memory 607 (e.g., the memory storage portion) exceeds a prescribed value. The prescribed value can include, e.g., some percentage amount or some actual amount of the value. In different embodiments, the image storage device 1503 can be included as a portion of the shared image device 101, as external to the shared image device, or as electrically connected (such as by an electrical coupling) to the shared image device. Different embodiments of the image storage device 1503 can be configurable as a mobile random access memory (RAM) device, a flash memory device, a semiconductor memory device, or any other memory device (that may or may not be distinct from the memory 607) that can store images, image information, and/or any other data that can be stored within the memory 607.

In certain embodiments, a secondary communication link 1505 can be established between the shared image device 101 (for example, the memory 607) and the image storage device 1503. The secondary communication link 1505 can be structured similar to as the communication link 104, as described with respect to FIGS. 1-4, or alternatively can utilize network-based computer connections, Internet connections, etc. to provide data transfer between the shared image device 101 that includes the computer/controller 603, and the image storage device 1503. The secondary communication link 1505 can be established prior to, during, and/or following the existence of the shared session.

In certain embodiments of the shared image device 101, the particular elements of the computer/controller 603 (e.g., the processor 605, the memory 607, the circuits 609, and/or the I/O 611) can provide a monitoring function to monitor the amount of images and/or image information contained therewithin. Such a monitoring function by the shared image device can be compared to a prescribed limit, such as whether the number of images contained in the memory 607, the amount of data contained within the memory 607, or some other measure relating to the memory is approaching some value. The limits to the value can, in different embodiments, be controlled by the user or the manufacturer. In certain embodiments, the memory 607 stores motion images, video images, and/or audio images relating to, e.g., a motion picture, camcorder, video, or audio embodiment of the shared image device. In certain embodiments the measure relating to the memory approaching some value may pertain to some recording duration, such as video recording duration or audio recording duration. Using the recoding duration, certain embodiments of motion picture shared image devices can thereby quantify how many shared images, or other images, have been captured.

In certain embodiments, the I/O 611 provides an interface to control the transmissions of digital information between each of the components in the computer/controller 603. The I/O 611 also provides an interface between the components of the computer/controller 603 and different portions of the shared image device. The circuits 609 can include such other user interface devices as a display and/or a keyboard.

In other embodiments, the computer/controller 603 can be constructed as a specific-purpose computer such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or other similar devices. A distinct computer/controller 603 can be integrated into certain embodiments of the shared image device 101, the share mechanism 102, and/or the communication link 104, as described with respect to FIG. 1 or 3.

In certain embodiments, the shared image device 101 including the computer/controller 603 can be configured as a peripheral shared image device. Such peripheral shared imaged devices can be configured to include sufficient image storage in the memory 607 to allow storage of the images for a session. Additionally, in certain embodiments the peripheral shared image device can transmit operational instructions (either computer based or manual) to instruct either a user at the capturing shared image device how to operate the capturing shared image device; or ultimately can automatically operate the capturing shared image device(s) according to the operating information or instructions. The operating information or instructions can include, but is not limited to, how many images to capture, where to capture (take a picture toward a specified direction), the subject of the desired image, zoom level, etc. In this manner, certain embodiments of peripheral shared image devices can effectively control the operation of an associated capturing shared image device by effective use of operating information.

Of one embodiment of a first shared image device 101 is described with respect to FIG. 5. The first shared image device 101 can include, but is not limited to, an image capture portion 60, a resolution conversion portion 62, a sharing portion 63, an image editing device 88, an image conversion energy indicator 90, and/or an image capturing operating device 92. In certain embodiments, but not others, the image capture portion 60 can be configurable to capture an image, that can be either a still-image and/or a motion image, which may be integrated with or without audio. In certain embodiments but not others, the resolution conversion portion 62 can be configurable to convert a resolution of the image (e.g., either to a higher resolution or to a lower resolution). In certain embodiments but not others, the sharing portion 63 can be configurable to transfer an image from one shared image device to another shared image device (e.g., either transmit or receive). In certain embodiments, the image editing device 88 can be configurable as a still image editing device 94 (to edit still images), or alternatively as a moving image editing device 96 (to edit moving images). In certain embodiments, but not others, the image conversion energy indicator 90 is configurable to indicate whether the shared image device has a sufficient energy, considering at least one part of an energy level of the shared image device, to change the resolution of an image at the shared image device. In certain embodiments, but not others, the image capturing operating device 92 is configurable to operate an image capturing device.

In certain embodiments as described with respect to FIG. 13, the shared image device 101 includes a device energy estimator 1402, a resolution conversion energy indicator 1404, a sharing mechanism 1406, an image editing device 1408, and/or a resolution conversion energy indicator 1414. In certain embodiments, but not others, the device energy estimator 1402 is configurable to estimate an energy value for the shared image device 101. Certain embodiments of the device energy estimator 1402 can be, for example, a battery charge indicator. In certain embodiments, but not others, the resolution conversion energy indicator 1404 is configurable to indicate whether the shared image device has sufficient energy to convert a resolution of images. If the resolution conversion energy indicator 1404 indicates that the shared image device does not have sufficient energy to convert the resolution of the image, then in different embodiments the shared image device can cancel attemts to convert the resolution of the images, or transfer the images to anther shared image device to have them convert the resolution. In certain embodiments, but not others, the sharing mechanism (that may be configured to transmit and/or receive shared images) is configurable to share the image with at least another shared image device. The sharing mechanism can be configurable to convert the resolution of the image. In certain embodiments but not others, the image editing device 1408 can be a still image editing device 1410, such as can capture still-images. In certain embodiments, the image editing device 1408 can be a moving image editing device 1412, such as can capture moving images.

One embodiment of a shared image device 101 is described with respect to FIG. 12. One embodiment of the shared image device 101 can include, but is not limited to, an imaging device energy value portion 802, a resolution conversion energy level portion 804, an image conversion portion 806, and an image transfer portion 808. One embodiment of the imaging device energy value portion 802 can be considered as an example of the device operational capacity indicator. One embodiment of the resolution conversion energy level portion 804 can be considered as an example of the image transformation estimator. One embodiment of the image conversion portion 806 can be considered as an example of a mechanism that converts the resolution of the image using the techniques as described with respect to FIGS. 9 to 11. One embodiment of the image transfer portion 808 can be considered as including the communication link 104 that can transfer data, image information, metadata associated with images, etc. between the shared image device 101 and a second device 810, such as a peripheral shared image device 120. Certain embodiments of the second device 810 can be configured as the peripheral shared image device 120 of FIGS. 1 to 4, another shared image device that can image and/or share images, or a variety of other devices that are configured to either transmit image information to, or receive image information from, the shared image device 101. One embodiment of the second device image conversion portion 812 that is included in the second device 810 can be considered as another example of a mechanism that converts the resolution of one or more shared images.

One embodiment of the shared image device 101 is now described with respect to FIG. 14, that can include but is not limited to, a device operational capacity indicator 1422, an image transformation estimator 1424, a sharing portion 1426, a converting mechanism 1428, and/or a resolution conversion energy indicator 1434. In certain embodiments but not others, the device operational capacity indicator 1422 can be configurable to estimate an operational capacity of the shared image device 101. Certain embodiments of the device operational capacity indicator 1422 can include, but are not limited to, an available energy indicator, an available battery energy indicator, an available device processing power indicator, an available device memory indicator, and/or an available computation time indicator. In certain embodiments but not others, the image transformation estimator 1424 can be configurable to estimate whether the shared image device has adequate operational capacity to transform at least one image. In certain embodiments, but not others, the image transformation estimator 1424 is configurable to indicate whether the shared image device has sufficient resource(s) to transform of images. If the image transformation estimator 1424 indicates that the shared image device does not have sufficient energy to convert the resolution of the image, then in different illustrative embodiments the shared image device can cancel attemts to transform the images, or transfer the images to anther shared image device to have them transform the image. Certain nonlimiting embodiments of the image transformation estimator 1424 can include an image resolution conversion estimator, an image exposure adjustment estimator, an image metadata modification estimator, an image content recognition estimator, and image composition adjustment estimator, etc. In certain embodiments but not others, the sharing portion 1426 can be configurable to share at least one image with other shared image devices. In certain embodiments but not others, a resolution conversion energy indicator 1434 is configurable to estimate whether the shared image device has adequate energy to convert a resolution of an image to a different resolution, such as by using mechanisms as described with respect to FIGS. 9-11. In certain embodiments but not others, the converting mechanism 1428 can be configurable to converts the resolution of the at least one image at least partially in response to the image transformation estimator. In certain embodiments but not others, the resolution conversion energy indicator 1434 can be configurable to estimate whether the shared image device has an adequate energy to convert a resolution to a different resolution.

One embodiment of a resolution conversion of a shared image technique or mechanism 1900 is now described with respect to FIG. 19, which includes but is not limited to portion 1902, portion 1904, and portion 1906. Portion 1902 can include a means for obtaining an operational capacity for a shared image device. Portion 1904 can include a means for estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of one or more images based at least in part on the means for obtaining the operational capacity. The type of transformation that can be estimated by portion 1904 includes, but is not limited to, those transformations that are described in this disclosure with respect to operations 1816, 1818, 1820, 1822, 1824, 1826, 1828, 1830, and 1832. Portion 1906 includes means for sharing the one or more images with at least one other shared image device in a manner that performs the transformation of the one or more images.

Examples of Device Operational Capacity

The different embodiments of the shared image devices 101, operating as described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4 that can be configurable as either capturing shared image devices and/or peripheral shared image devices, could reasonably be expected to either capture, photograph, project, display, obtain, retain, process, download, and/or perform a variety of other operations with respect to a number of shared images. In certain embodiments, a relatively large memory storage area can be provided to, and utilized by, each shared image device to deal with the large amounts of data associated with images, and the associated processing.

This section includes a description of certain embodiments of indicators that allow the shared image device to operate within their estimated memory capacity, battery capacity, image capacity, processor capacity, and/or a combination thereof. When the particular capacity for a particular shared image device is reached, the particular shared image device typically does not operate as intended or designed. Different embodiments of the device capacity include, but are not limited to, memory storage capacity, processor capacity, and/or battery life capacity. One example of a device capacity indicator is described in this disclosure relative to FIG. 26, with respect to a status indicator 1504.

In many embodiments, the users of each shared image device can be provided with the option of obtaining or retaining particular shared images obtained from a particular shared image device, associated with a particular user, or relating to a particular subject. In one embodiment, such filtering techniques can filter based upon the metadata that is associated with each shared image.

In certain embodiments, the shared image device 101 can include a record that indicates the shared image device that actually captured the shared images. The record can also include the identities of other shared image devices with which the user has agreed, by joining the sharing session, to be willing to share images. The user of the shared image device with such a record can select those other shared image devices with which they wish to access certain, or at least some of their, shared images for the particular sharing session. In one embodiment, this can be considered as a back-end synchronization to provide sharing of shared images, and the synchronized data can be returned to the capturing shared image device.

This can be because there is an association between the different shared image devices (e.g., a user's camera and the user's computer or printer). In one embodiment, there can be a sharing session identifier that is available to the members of the sharing session by which the shared images, portions thereof, associated information, metadata, etc. that in certain instances allows transferring the shared images through the network or the Internet.

The synchronization for a session of multiple shared image devices can allow a member shared image device that has left a session to return to the session. In addition, a member that has entered a session later than other members can receive the prior images relating to the session by synchronizing with other members of the session that have the prior shared images. In certain embodiments, it is envisioned that different members of the same session can have different sessions, so to provide a complete synchronization for a member joining (or rejoining) an existing session, the joining shared image device may obtain a number of images from multiple shared image device sources. In the master-satellite embodiments as described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 3, it may be possible for a member shared image device joining the session to synchronize therewith to obtain the images (or portions thereof) from that master shared image device which contains all images pertaining to that session.

Synchronization may be more complex in certain embodiments than certain shared image devices providing the images to other shared image devices. For example, certain shared image devices may have limited resources compared with other shared image devices due to different memory dimensions, different battery lives, different imaging resolutions, etc. As such, to transmit image data between different shared image devices, it may be important that the sending shared image device configure the image data in a format as desired by the receiving shared image device. For example, the shared images could be selected to be thumbnail images, full images, portion of images, metadata relating to images, etc.

In many embodiments of shared image devices, a mechanism can be provided such that a receiving shared image device that has obtained one version of a shared image can obtain another. For example, if a receiving shared image device that has already received a thumbnail shared image from a transmitting shared image device, and the receiving shared image device thereupon provides a request to obtain a full-resolution image version or a reduced-resolution image version of certain shared images, then the transmitting shared image device could provide such full-resolution images. In certain embodiments, such synchronization (to provide certain versions of many images, or alternate versions of certain images) could be allowed even after the session is complete such as by using such a transfer mechanism such as email, or even a reestablished communication link.

In certain embodiments, a memory capacity warning such as the status indicator 1504 exists on capturing shared image devices such as a camera or camcorder. This memory capacity warning can function in a similar manner to a battery indicator, to indicate an amount of time remaining considering past-flows for the particular sharing session. As such, if the past image storage has captured a prescribed percentage of the memory storage, the indicator will indicate the number of images used compared to those remaining, the percentage of image storage space used, or the amount of time remaining. The users of the shared image devices can use such indicators based on past-flows to judiciously apply further image capturing, obtaining, retaining, or other activities.

Certain ones of the device capacities may be related. For example, one capturing shared image device may be configurable to only be able to store a certain number of shared full-sized images. The status indicator 1504 therefore may indicate the number of remaining full-sized images, reduced-resolution images, as well as the number of thumbnail images or metadata (as desired by the user of the shared shared image device, or as designed by the designer of the shared shared image device). To obtain or retain more full-sized images or even reduced-resolution images may require a considerable amount of battery life that represents another embodiment of device capacity. As such, a particular user considering obtaining or retaining more shared images may depend partially on the battery life state as well as the amount of energy necessary to obtain the current state of stored full-sized images, thumbnail images, or metadata.

In one embodiment, the data associated with the captured shared images can be initially stored in an image storage location within the shared image device. The percentage of data (or number of images) that is stored in the image storage location can be monitored, and when the percentage of data (or number of images) exceeds a predetermined amount, some data that is to be stored and/or data that has been stored can be obtained or retained to a remote storage location.

In one embodiment, the remote storage location can be remotely located from the device image storage location such that the image, or portions thereof, can be obtained or retained over a wireless communication link and/or other link such as over the Internet or another shared image network or network. In another embodiment, the remote storage location can include, for example, an image storage device that is operably coupled, such as by a short connection link, to the shared image device. The physical memory dimensions of the image storage location, and as well as the remote storage location, can be selected based on the volumes and type of images, portions of images, or other image information that is likely to be obtained with a particular shared image device for a particular sharing session. As such, this allows the sharing by shared image devices 101 to be accomplished in a substantially real-time basis.

A data storage capacity situation can occur when a user overuses the storage capability of the shared image device, such as by capturing too many images using a digital camera or camcorder. This may be connected to the shared-percentage concept described presenting, wherein if a certain percentage of the image capacity in a camera has been captured, either the images relating to that sharing session, or the images from a particular user, can be rejected (or selectively considered by using, e.g., a browsing mechanism).

Certain embodiments of the sharing mechanism can also operate as a subscription mechanism. For example, if a user of a first shared image device captures an image, it may be sent to the other shared image devices that are participating in the sharing session. Such a subscription to a sharing session may be equated with subscribing with another service. Each subscribing shared image device may thereupon elect to join a particular session. In certain embodiments of a session, each user of a shared image device can select which images are to be obtained or retained, and can reject certain images. There are a variety of embodiments that can be provided between sessions and subscriptions thereto.

In certain embodiments, if a user of a first shared image device agrees to publish a particular image for a number of other shared image devices including, in particular, a second shared image device, then the user at the second shared image device can, in certain embodiments but not others, agree to accept the pictures. It is also possible to envision relatively simple or complex cases. For example, shared image devices configurable as digital cameras can have the capability of browsing through their shared images. Such a browser could be applied to incoming subscribed-to images. Consider an instance that provides for “stop subscribing” to any particular user, from any particular sharing session, and/or the like. As such, the images can be either permanently blocked, temporarily blocked, allowed access to add further time, selectively cultured, or a wide variety of other permutations. At a live event, a user may for example be more concerned with capturing the images than managing them.

Examples of Peripheral Shared Image Device Concepts

A number of different embodiments of peripheral shared image device concepts are described, which can describe sharing between one or more capturing shared image devices and/or one or more peripheral shared image devices. FIGS. 20 and 21 are intended to describe illustrative embodiments of shared image networks 100, and are not intended to be limiting in scope. Any arrangement of shared image devices, capturing shared image devices, and/or peripheral shared image devices that are arranged as described with respect to FIG. 20 or 21 are within the intended scope of the present disclosure regardless of the inclusion of additional shared image devices 101 or additional communication links 104.

In FIG. 20, shared image devices 101 d and 101 e represent examples of the shared image devices 101, and are configurable to capture shared images of the type described with respect to the capturing shared image device portion 530 of FIG. 4, or the shared image devices 101 of FIGS. 1 to 3. The peripheral shared image device 101 d is an example of the type included in the peripheral shared image device portion 532 of FIG. 4, and may include, for example, printers, memory devices, memory drives, facsimile machines, projectors, displays, television, computer systems, phones, camera phones, display phones, personal display assistants (PDAs), and any other known type of device having a display. The communication link 104 a is of the type as designated as 104 with respect to FIGS. 1-4, and is configured to transmit shared image(s), image information, portions of image representations, etc. between their respective shared image devices. The communication link 104 a operatively couples the peripheral shared image device 101 d and the capturing shared image device 101 e.

In FIG. 21, shared image devices 101 g and 101 h represent examples of the shared image devices 101, and are configurable to capture shared images of the type included in the capturing shared image device portion 530 of FIG. 4, or described as the shared image devices 101 of FIGS. 1 to 3. Peripheral shared image device 101 g is an example of the type included in the peripheral shared image device portion 532 of FIG. 4. The communication link 104 c is of the type as described as 104 with respect to FIGS. 1-4, and is configured to transmit shared image(s), image information, portions of image representations, etc between their respective shared image devices. The communication link 104 c operatively couples the peripheral shared image device 101 g and the shared image device 101 h.

In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the herein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, electromechanical system, and/or firmware configurable to effect the herein-referenced method aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

Examples of Sharing Mechanisms

To provide improved consumer electronics, it may be desirable to provide a simplified sharing mechanism to accomplish the desired task for the shared image device 101. The image-based products produced by such large-scale electronics/computer manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Xerox, Sony, and a variety of other companies (all registered trademarks of their respective companies) determine those consumer-electronic devices that could have sharing capacity. To appreciate the large variety of shared image devices 101 that could benefit from sharing capability and thereby become either a capturing or peripheral shared image device of, one can walk-through a large consumer-electronics store, or alternatively consider the variety of consumer device patents in the patents are pending applications before the USPTO.

Certain shared image devices 101 might have a prescribed design behavior when associated with a group of shared image devices. Consider that each shared image device has a traditional function such as photography, printing, computing, etc. It is also possible that some shared image devices can perform a function that differs from their traditional function for a particular sharing session.

Theoretically, the share mechanism can be configurable to operate relatively simply to cause sharing between multiple shared image devices; similar to the ease that has become generally accepted by, e.g., depressing a shutter button that triggers a camera to capture an image. Additional complexity may be provided, as desired, in certain embodiments of shared mechanisms to provide additional functionality such as to select those shared image devices that may join a particular sharing session. One embodiment of such additional complexity to select member shared image devices may relate to establishing a “buddy list” between multiple shared image devices, as described later in this disclosure. Certain embodiments of shared image devices, but not others, are configured as a packaged item that allows sharing functionality to other shared image devices in the package. Such member selection may be afforded to peripheral shared image devices such as device printers, DVD burners, etc.

In certain embodiments, shared image devices select certain shared images that may have been captured by at least one other shared image device, and can obtain other versions of the selected shared images. In one embodiment, it may be desired to provide a near-real-time data-transfer between certain shared image devices 101 (but perhaps not others) that are participating in certain sharing sessions. In other embodiments, the rate of data transfer may not be critical based on the particular application, and the rate of data transfer can be reduced. The particular share mechanism should be adaptable to the uses, designs, operations, and other considerations of the shared image devices.

Examples of Shared Image Devices Having Password Proximity

It has been described above how to integrate a number of shared image devices 101 into the shared image network 100 based upon the proximity of the shared image devices 101 (either geographic or based on the communication link 104), and also based on the actuations of, and the operations of, the respective shared mechanisms. In the geographic proximity-based embodiments, the shared image devices can be located relatively closely to each other depending upon the particular technology utilized.

In other embodiments, shared image devices can be operably connected to each other (e.g., operably coupled) to allow authentication for operation such as by a password such as a spoken word or phrase, a captured picture, etc. Certain embodiments can use password-proximity in combination with, or in addition to, geographic proximity. The different types of proximity are therefore not necessarily mutually exclusive. As such, an authorizing password, a pass image, or a variety of similar pass mechanisms can replace the above-described physical proximity requirements.

This portion of the disclosure thereby describes how a number of shared image devices 101 can join the sharing session based on passwords or a similar mechanism, instead of based upon the physical proximity. Certain embodiments of the shared image network 100 can create group passwords to protect against use of shared image devices by non-participants. The shared image devices 101 within that particular sharing session can be configurable to respond or operate pursuant to the password, pass image, etc. using suitable image recognition, speech recognition, pattern recognition, or other recognition programs. Consider, for example, one of the participants at a birthday party or other event creates a temporary community password for the session group.

Participants can enter the appropriate password, and thereby actuate the shared image device 101 using the sharing mechanism. In one embodiment, only those shared image devices 101 with the correct password may be provided access to a community of shared images for that sharing session.

A variety of password mechanisms thereby can provide password functionality to shared image devices 101. Password mechanisms represent one relatively easy technique to provide password functionality. In one embodiment, the users of shared image devices 101 can follow instructions to type in a specific password, pass phrase, something the user says, something the user types, or some picture that can be possessed by the users in the sharing session (e.g., handed out at the door for a sharing event). Such password, etc. that passes the appropriate recognition program can thereupon be used for authentication, etc.

One embodiment of a recognizable password for a recognition program includes a photographic-password. For example, a user who wants to join a certain session can do so by submitting a captured image of an arm, a captured image of a thumb, a captured image of a distinct object that can identify a group of individuals (e.g., an image of a shoe or car keys), a captured image of a prescribed number of fingers or some letter or umber (or group thereof), or a captured image of some other physical characteristic hose shape or appearance would be recognizable using computer-based image recognition programs, etc. In another embodiment, at least some of the cameras are provided (e.g., by a leader of a session or a producer of a shared image device) with a similar appearing card or piece of paper having some shape or pattern printed on them that represents a picture that can thereupon act as a password.

In another embodiment, the printed pattern could even include, e.g., a page or portion of a newspaper, or magazine, or a portion thereof. The pattern of text, or a photograph, or a physical shape can represent a pattern that is recognizable by a hardware, firmware, or software-based pattern recognition mechanism such as may be used in certain embodiments of shared image devices 101. In yet another embodiment, the pattern recognition software can even be applied to remote shared image devices, such that the members of the sharing session hold up some predetermined number of fingers (e.g., 5, 4, etc.), or a printed number, to join the sharing session. These examples of pattern recognition, speech recognition, etc. are illustrative in nature and not limiting in scope. In certain embodiments, the users of the shared image devices 101 can even be remotely located as in different cities or countries while allowing suitable operation of the shared image network 100.

The patterns discussed in this disclosure are recognizable by an optical, audio, or video pattern recognition system or device (such as a pattern or shape recognition program that runs on at least one general-purpose computer or at least one specialized-purpose or specific-purpose computer, or a networked combination thereof, as described herein). It is also to be understood that many shared image devices, such as digital cameras or camcorders, could include voice input that could thereupon be compared against a speech pattern, an audio pattern, and/or a password or pass-phrase pattern using vocal recognition patterns. As such, a vocal or audio pattern search of a particular individual using a vocal or audio recognition program, or using a particular spoken password, is within the intended scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, a spoken password can be compared to a voice recognition program for that password.

There are a wide variety of graphic, photographic, image-based, local, or audio type passwords, and/or pass-phrases that are within the intended scope of the present disclosure. As such, those described herein are not intended to be limiting in scope. The variety of recognition programs for speech, voice, image, audio, video, etc. provide an indication of the large variety of recognition programs that are within the intended scope of the applicable pattern recognition programs of the present disclosure. The general operation of recognition programs as run on captures and/or controllers are generally well known by those skilled in the art and will not be further detailed within this disclosure.

The sophistication, quality, expense, and functionality of shared image devices 101 included in different embodiments of the shared image network can therefore vary widely. In one embodiment, the satellite shared image devices 101 b that are associated with the master shared image device 101 a can be a relatively inexpensive device, such as cameras or camcorders that can each hold a prescribed amount of data at any given time. As such, the satellite shared image devices 101 b can thereupon obtain or retain the data to the imaging computer-camera associated with that sharing session. In other embodiments, some of shared image devices 101 in the shared image network 100 can be relatively expensive and sophisticated, such that each shared image devices 101 can be configurable to perform a specific function and/or specific operability.

A certain master shared image device 101 a can alternatively be configurable as a satellite shared image device 101 b in a different sharing session or time. In one embodiment, the person giving the party, moderating an event, etc. can logically configure their digital image device to be the master. As such, certain digital image devices (e.g., digital cameras or camcorders) can be configurable as the master or satellite depending upon the particular sharing session, and who is establishing or running the sharing session.

If a particular shared image is deleted, the deletion of the shared image can propagate through other shared image devices and/or users in certain embodiments. Although in certain relatively simplified embodiments, the deletion will not propagate through to other shared image devices. It may, also be desirable to apply an undo function to certain embodiments of shared image devices to remove bad pictures (images) so that they may not be shared.

In the peer-configuration, it may be desired to provide some “remembering” function such that the shared image network 100 remembers the contents of those particular shared images that were not shared before shared image devices lost proximity. An option may be to allow those shared images to be shared between shared image devices.

Examples of Sharing Sessions

As described in this disclosure, it may be useful in certain embodiments (while not in other embodiments) to incorporate some type of a sharing session that extends for the duration of a session to associate, on a sharing basis, those member shared image devices to the sharing session. As such, the sharing session can be the duration over which certain embodiments of shared image devices 101 may share their shareable resources, such as still pictures or motion pictures.

There can be many embodiments of types of sharing sessions, as described within this disclosure. For example, in some sessions, the shared images that have been captured can be shared or copied between some of the other shared image devices 101. As such, if a number of shared image devices each captured an image (or portions thereof) for a particular sharing session, then some of the shared image devices can be expected to have a large number of shared images to capture, process, manage, consider, store, and/or view. In other embodiments of the sharing sessions, only a certain number of the images are shared or copied with certain shared image devices.

One embodiment of the sharing session may involve a group of users for a session (e.g., parents for a particular child's birthday party or sporting event), each of which have a shared image device that may be configurable (authenticated or authorized) to gain access to the shared images at that event. In one embodiment, certain shared image devices 101 could obtain or retain shared images (e.g., pictures) even after they had left, but before the event has ended. It is likely that the shared image network 100 would utilize one or more wireless links to provide the flexibility between the shared image devices such as is provided with certain local area networks. Alternatively, the images could be accessed later over e.g., wide area networks to obtain or retain large volumes of the data associated with a number of pictures.

For certain embodiments, it may be desired to allow a certain shared image device 101 to join a plurality of concurrent sharing sessions. A user would then be able to determine which one of multiple sharing sessions they wished to be a member. As such, such a shared image device 101 could obtain or retain information from at least certain other shared image devices from both/all of the concurrent sharing sessions. Access to the multiple sharing sessions can be covered by providing multiple passwords or pass-phrases that each relate to the different concurrent sharing sessions. In certain embodiments, it is therefore possible for certain shared image devices 101 to subscribe to multiple sharing sessions simultaneously. Logically, this sharing of one shared image device into multiple sharing sessions can be envisioned as, e.g., a Venn diagram in which each shape represents one of multiple potentially-overlapping concurrent sharing sessions. In these embodiments, the sharing sessions that each shared image relates to can be identified; or in certain embodiments, a particular shared image device pertains to both/all of the concurrent sharing sessions.

With many embodiments of sharing sessions that are established on peer-to-peer shared image networks similar to as described above with respect to FIG. 2; the networks can have the capability of replicating data that has been lost (or not obtained) by a particular shared image device 101. As such, when a particular shared image device 101 joins the sharing session, it may be able to query at least some of the devices to obtain the shared images that have been captured through the beginning of that sharing session. As such, when a member of the sharing session or event arrives halfway through the event, they will be able to access the previously captured images, etc. that pertain to the sharing session.

Replication of lost, or never obtained, data may be successfully performed in many peer-to-peer shared image networks as well as other networks. Such data replication represents an advantage of certain peer-to-peer shared image networks. This replication may not apply to sharing sessions that have already both started and ended, even for peer-to-peer shared image networks. As such, in many embodiments, users of shared image devices 101 that might have joined the sharing session after the sharing session has ended may not be able to obtain those shared images substantially directly (but perhaps can obtain the sharing session pictures from a friend or a family member). Certain embodiments of the shared image network 100 may include a concept of a synchronized master shared image device from which a latecomer can obtain the shared images.

Though dissimilarities exist between different types of sharing sessions between shared image devices 101, there can also be a great deal of commonality. For example, many embodiments of the sharing sessions can be identified by a unique session identifier. With certain embodiments of the sharing sessions, those who are attending should be able to access the shared images captured by some of the shared image devices 101 associated with that sharing session (while this may not be true in other embodiments of the sharing session). Many embodiments of sharing sessions rely on a broadcast by which images (or portions thereof or information relating thereto) are transmitted to other members of the session, in many instances without an addressing mechanism.

A user can get access to sharing sessions in certain embodiments after they have left that sharing session, such as a party. For example, the sharing session may be configurable such that the members can access images relating to any portion of the shared session following the shared session from one of the session members (perhaps after providing a suitable password to rejoin and/or access images from the session). In certain embodiments, such sharing session members may be able to access the shared images after they leave the sharing session using a different mechanism, such as the Internet or another embodiment of network (e.g., or other shared image network). The particular configuration of the shared image network largely determines how current members, as well as past members, of the sharing session may access shared images from the shared image network.

Consider that for certain embodiments, when a user actuates a sharing mechanism 102 to join a particular sharing session, that they establish a sharing session identity (ID). For certain embodiments of shared image devices 101, they should be able to use the sharing session ID to later retrieve pictures even after they have left the event. For example, the password can be used as a host-name or sharing session ID for the event. Sharing session names can also default to easily remembered things such as date, name of the sharing session, etc. Shared image devices can be associated with one or more from a set of shared default keywords such as “party”, “anniversary”, “Christmas”, “sports event”, “business meeting”, etc. For a number of embodiments, the information associated with each particular sharing session should be retrievable later from a central computer, a server, etc.

For a particular sharing session member who shows up late to the sharing session or meeting, it may be important that different session attendees have the capability of “pulling in” new members, and providing them the shared images going back to the beginning of the sharing session. For example, assume that there are four currently-joined shared image devices 101 in a session, and a new shared image device is being joined using the first shared image device to establish a new grouping of five shared image devices. Such joining techniques may, for example, rely on point-to-point communication, master-satellite communication, client-server communication, or other shared communication techniques. In one embodiment, for example, the user of the first shared image device 101 actuates the sharing mechanism that publishes the shared images to allow the joining shared image device to become part of the sharing session, and thereby gain access to the images already captured by other session shared image devices. A number of different sharing session configurations for the sharing mechanisms can thereby be provided depending on the application or as a design choice. One embodiment involves a first person actuating the sharing mechanism 102, at which point other shared image devices within range may be able to access those. This embodiment could be considered as simply opening up some of the session information contained in one shared image device 101 to other shared image devices.

Another embodiment can be considered as a “published with synchronized timestamp”, such that each user actuates the sharing mechanism at the same time to get synchronized, and therefore is able to somewhat control the dispersal of the shared images. Another embodiment can be referred to as a “shared plus password.”

Examples of Ancillary Aspects for Sharing Mechanisms

Certain shared image device 101 concepts can also be applicable to business meetings, telephone calls, amusement centers, sports events, etc. As such, some participants in a meeting can copy, share, and/or distribute all, or selected shared images, or shared camcorder output, etc. relating to the meeting, event, etc. This even applies to those members who arrived late.

Some embodiments of the sharing mechanism can also include a stop-publishing aspect of the sharing mechanism. In certain session embodiments, a stop-sharing mechanism or temporary halt publishing mechanism performs an inverse operation to the sharing mechanism as described herein. Suppose, for example, that a user in a shared image device 101 wishes to capture at least one private picture, and thereby temporarily disconnects from the shared image network to keep from sharing that image from the other members of the sharing session.

This can be the same or a different feature as a temporary-private mechanism such as a mute-image device. In this manner, a person in the party can temporarily disconnect their device from the shared image network 100 and/or certain shared images or portions thereof for a portion of the sharing session.

In one embodiment, a unique time-stamp can be provided to synchronize at least some of the digital devices in the sharing session, and the time can be measured with respect to the beginning of the sharing session. Each shared image device such as a digital camera or camcorder can thereupon utilize a universal sharing time. In one embodiment, at least some of the clocks for the different shared image devices 101 slave to a time corresponding to one of the devices for that sharing session. In another embodiment, at least certain shared image devices 101 slave to a sharing session time for that session. The selected sharing session time can rely on a distinct time-keeping mechanism.

In another embodiment, a “buddy list” can be integrated into a number of shared image devices that form a subset from within a larger group of shared image devices (e.g., the smaller group is identified to share or copy their shared images using the buddy list). Those shared image devices may elect to share or copy their images with other shared image devices sharing the same buddy list, but not share their “buddy-list” images with the group of shared image devices at large.

In one practical example, assume that one user of the shared image device 101 goes to a sports event with a group of friends. When that user actuates the sharing mechanism using their buddy list, the shared image device synchronizes with other shared image devices on that buddy list, but not necessarily with the shared image devices at large. In one embodiment, the “buddy-list” group can be associated with a prescribed password, for example. There can be a variety of such embodiments of shared image devices that range from relatively simple to more complex. The use of the buddy list to actuate the share mechanism in certain embodiments of shared image devices can utilize certain passwords, such that those shared image devices that produce the passwords can join the buddy-list session.

A number of rules can be applied to the shared image devices that pertain to general concepts of time, space, and/or locations for capturing the shared images. Such aspects as buddy lists, the numbers of pictures that can be shared, stop-halt, temporary-halt, percentage of storage that can be shared, and the types of pictures that can be shared (e.g., private or public shared images) are exemplary aspects with respect to shared image devices.

Additionally, in one embodiment, photographers could prioritize their shared images. For example, certain shared images can vary in quality based on, e.g., content, interest, or quality of the shared image in a manner that can be either objectively or subjectively rated, or other such factors. Other users may select a shared image device to access only those shared images that are above a certain quality level (e.g. good, excellent, fair, etc.). Filtering of the lower quality images, measured by some objective and/or subjective standard, provides a technique to reduce the amount of data that has to be obtained or retained for each sharing session.

Certain embodiments of shared image devices can be configurable to handle multiple sharing sessions. For example, suppose a user has a printer that can handle both a first sharing session and a second sharing session for a particular digital camera or camcorder. Different applications for the shared image devices could thereupon be useful in business, educational, sporting, governmental, police, or applications in which an individual obtains shared images for several concurrent events (or only one event that an individual is not attending). It might be desirable to allow a user to subscribe to the multiple sharing sessions substantially simultaneously. The personal computer (PC) can be configurable as a peer (of a peer-to-peer shared image network configuration) that monitors the shared images that are being captured as to select a variety of shared images from multiple shared image devices.

In certain embodiments, a status indicator can be provided, either on the shared image device or separately, and which indicates to others that a particular shared image device is in its share mode. One example of a status indicator may be an indicator light, or an “active” indicator on the display of the shared image device. Other status indicators may display some information pertaining to the particular sharing session.

Examples of Viewfinders for Shared Image Devices

In certain embodiments, but not others, a sharing mechanism might be considered to function as a virtual picture frame or viewfinder that allows remotely-located shared image devices such as digital cameras or camcorders to capture shared images. Viewfinders therefore provide a mechanism for one shared image device (which may be configurable as either a peripheral shared image device, a capturing shared image device, and/or another shared image device) to observe an image that has been, or is being, captured by another shared image device (which may be configurable as either a peripheral shared image device, a capturing shared image device, and/or another shared image device). As such, certain embodiments of viewfinders may be considered as operating to “share and/or remotely control another shared image device's viewfinder”. In one embodiment, a viewfinder at a first shared image device can display at least one image, or a portion thereof, that is being imaged at a second shared image device. The second shared image device acts by displaying at least a portion of the at least one image that is displayed by the first shared image device as it could appear at the first shared image device. Those embodiments of shared image devices 101 that are provided with viewfinders can be used by users to perform a variety of processing related to the shared images including, but not limited to, viewing the shared images, selecting those shared images to keep and those to discard, determine those shared images that will undergo further processing, and determine those shared images to select an increased resolution version of (e.g., when provided with thumbnails, image information or portions thereof, or metadata describing the image). For example, certain embodiments of viewfinders may display thumbnails of shared images. From the thumbnails, the user determines those shared images that are to be accessed in more detail (e.g., having a greater resolution).

FIG. 28 shows one embodiment of a sharing menu 800 that is integrated within a shared image device 101. The sharing menu 800 can be integrated as a portion of the viewfinder of certain embodiments of the shared image device 101 (e.g., such as being located on the display of the shared image device). The shared image device can allow a user to join a particular session, for which they are proximately located using one of the above-described mechanisms such as geographic proximity, proximity by communications link, and/or proximity by password.

The sharing menu 800 can include a variety of questions, such as including input for the name and/or identity of the user, the user password, indicating whether this shared image device is the master device for a particular session, and indicating whether the particular session has a prescribed duration, and if so, when is the timeout. The embodiment of the sharing menu 800 as described with respect to FIG. 28 is illustrative in nature, and not limiting in scope. In actuality, the sharing menu 800 can have a variety of appearances, shapes, and/or questions.

FIG. 16 shows one embodiment of a viewfinder 900 that is integrated within a shared image device 101. As described with respect to FIG. 16, the shared image device 101, such as a digital camera or camcorder, may be configurable to capture and/or retain shared images. Alternatively, the shared image device 101 can be a portable image storage and/or display device, or a computer to obtain and/or retain shared images. Certain embodiments of shared image devices do not include the viewfinder 900, and as such would not be used to display shared images. In this disclosure, the viewfinder 900 refers not only to traditional optical viewfinders, but also to liquid crystal display (LCD) or other displays such as might be located on the back of the digital camera or camcorder.

As described with respect to FIG. 16, the shared image device 101 is in communication via a communication link of 104 with the capturing shared image device 101 c. For example, the capturing shared image device 101 c is configurable for capturing images, certain ones of which can be shared images. The viewfinder 900 can thereby display certain images captured by the instant shared image device 101 over a local capturing portion 908 of the viewfinder 900, and also display images captured by the remote capturing shared image device 101 c over a remote capturing portion 910 of the viewfinder. For example, shown in FIG. 16 are images 1 and 2 from a shared image device 1, and images 1 and 2 from a separate shared image device 2; these images may serve as examples of shared images. In addition, different embodiments of the shared image device 101 as described with respect to FIG. 16 are configured as a capturing shared image device (that can capture an image), or alternately as a peripheral shared image device. As an aside, note that although a certain configuration of the local capturing portion 908 and the remote capturing portion 910 are shown, in certain embodiments of the viewfinder 900 other configurations/locations of the remote capturing portion 910 in addition to the local capturing portion 908 are possible.

The selection of a relative display of the remote capturing portion 910 relative to the local capturing portion 908 over the viewfinder 900 is a design choice, and the present description is not intended to be limiting in scope. For example, the remote capturing portion 910 of the viewfinder 900 can be provided relative to the local capturing portion 908 as an overlying window, an underlying window, a top or bottom window, an additional box, overlying text that is physically typed above the local capturing portion 908, or a variety of other configurations that are known to those skilled in graphical user interfaces (GUIs) such as Windows (as designed and made commercially available by Microsoft) and Mac (as designed and made commercially available by Apple Computer).

Also described with respect to FIG. 16 is a feedback line 906 that provides a user interface between a shared image device 101 and another shared image device 101 c. The embodiment of the feedback line 906 as described with respect to FIG. 16 allows a user at a local shared image device 101 to provide imaging input to a shared image device 101 c. Certain embodiments of the feedback line 906 can be configurable as a wireless link, similar in configuration to the communication link 104. In certain embodiments, the feedback line 906 can be integral with the communication link 104. Utilizing certain embodiments of the feedback line 906, the user at the shared image device 101 thereby provides feedback to the remote capturing shared image device 101 c as to what they want to see, or to particulars of capturing current or future images.

In one embodiment, the feedback line 906 includes an audio transmission line, by which one user can indicate to another user at the shared image device 101 c to, perhaps, move the particular shared image device 101 c to another location, detect a different field of view, zoomed in or out, otherwise adjust the settings of the capturing shared image device, provide a shared image, do not provide a shared image, capture another shared image, to not capture another shared image, or perform a variety of other task(s) with the shared image device 101 c.

Non-verbal instructions, similar in nature to those described as being transmitted over the audio version of the feedback line 906, can also be transmitted over a text-based or other graphical version of the feedback line. For example, a user in one shared image device can indicate to a user and another shared image device to scan in another direction by using a series of the arrows or other recognizable indicators that are transmitted utilizing GUI nomenclature via the feedback line 906. One user can also type to a remote user to zoom in or out.

The different embodiments of the feedback line 906 can be added, in addition to those feedback lines that are integral with each communication link 104, as described in this disclosure. Increasing the types and amount of communications that can be transmitted utilizing the feedback line 906 can thereby provide more interaction between the users and remotely-located shared image devices, thereby potentially improving an overall image sharing experience.

As described in this disclosure, certain embodiments of the viewfinder 900 thereby can be configurable in a variety of configurations to display the images in a variety of formats depending upon the type of the shared image device, the volume of data that is available to store therein, the amount of shared images that actually are stored therein, and the user input.

The viewfinder 900 may be utilized in a variety of shared image devices 101 to display certain shared images. As such, a first shared image device can capture or copy a shared image, or a portion thereof, from a second shared image device at a remote location from the first shared image device. Under these circumstances, the first shared image device can actually utilize the imaging aspects or equipment of the second shared image device. Instead of photographing a vision or scene with multiple shared image devices, the scene can be photographed by only one device, and the distributed images can be combined to be copied or shared with other shared image devices.

It is thereby possible in certain embodiments to utilize another shared image devices' viewfinder 900 including the local capturing portion 908 and the remote capturing portion 910; such that one user can see what's on somebody else's shared image device. Suppose, for example, one shared image device that is at a child's birthday party is positioned at a swing while a second is at a swimming pool. It may be desirable to switch between the images that appear in the viewfinder 900 of the multiple shared image devices. Such viewfinders can exist in many embodiments of the peripheral shared image device 101 d that is providing some operation information over the communication link 104 a to the capturing shared image device 101 e (see e.g. FIG. 20) to control an operation of the capturing shared image device.

This use of switching viewfinders 900 for the shared image devices can also be applied to business, educational, personal, or other applications. For example, there might be multiple blackboards or whiteboards in a classroom that can be captured by multiple shared image devices. Alternatively, a user may wish to view what is going on in one class while attending another. Certain embodiments of the shared image device as described in this disclosure can thereby, essentially, bookmark activities at another shared image device.

In certain applications, it may therefore be worthwhile to view somebody else's viewfinder 900 as opposed to just obtaining or retaining shared images that might have been captured. This also provides a technique to view the viewfinder 900 of another shared image device. For example, one shared image device can be used to indicate to a second shared image device that the subject of the first shared image device; as such, please capture an image at the second shared image device for the first shared image device.

Sharing or copying images between multiple shared image devices can thereby be considered as copying a captured image from the capturing shared image device to the other shared image devices (such other shared image devices can be configurable either as a capturing and/or peripheral shared image device). The quality, resolution, and other characteristics of each shared image are initially determined by the image in properties of the capturing shared image device that captured that shared image.

Consider that, in one embodiment, a first shared image device has a higher resolution compared to other shared image device(s), such that relatively high quality shared images can be copied and distributed with other shared image devices (that are only capable of capturing lower resolution shared images). In certain sharing sessions, the best, or highest resolution, shared image device, or those used by the best photographer, can be used to capture shared images or portions thereof for other sharing devices in the sharing session. Each image or photograph can be captured by the particular desired capturing shared image device (highest resolution, least memory used, flash capability, demonstrated ability to take good shared images, etc.). The shared images captured by multiple shared image devices can then be copied or shared into each desired shared image device.

As such, a particular user may have a number of capturing shared image devices, each shared image device is considered optimal to capture a particular type of image. The sharing mechanism as described in this disclosure thereby allows the shared image that is being captured by each of these capturing shared image devices to be transferred between these multiple shared image devices to one or more selected shared image devices. Those images received by the selected shared image device from each of these “optimized” shared image devices are thereby identical to those images captured by the capturing shared image device.

Certain embodiments of the viewfinder 900 provide a mechanism by which the shared image device displays those images which, in time, can be copied to at least one other shared image device.

In one embodiment, the viewfinder 900 is used to subscribe to data from other shared image devices. New functionality might be provided to one shared image device based on the images, data, and/or information being shared or copied from other shared image devices. For example, the viewfinder 900 might annotate its display to show which geographic areas have been sufficiently captured or covered by previous shared images. In the case where the shared image device 101 is a digital camera or camcorder, that new functionality may include an enhanced resolution, an occlusion removal, etc.

The viewfinder 900 can be utilized to publish the presence of its information to users. For example, the viewfinder might annotate its display to show those areas of a shared image that are most desired by other users. The user looking through the viewfinder 900 might alter the subject of the current shared image (such as by changing direction or zooming) based on what it detects as the most valuable people, places, or other subjects to photograph. Within this disclosure, the term “valuable” is highly subjective, and can refer to, e.g., an area that has not already been captured by other cameras (for example a particular child at a birthday party who has not been frequently imaged, a remote corner of a park at a particular time of day, a publicly-known individual, a group of individuals, or a person involved in an activity specifically requested by someone). Such determination of a particularly valuable individual or image can be input manually, or somewhat automatically using a recognition program or positioning program.

In certain embodiments, the viewfinder 900 can also indicate what has already been shared. Using image processing techniques, prior shared images can be considered. For example, children at a birthday party whose images have been captured (photographed) frequently might, in certain embodiments, appear differently within the viewfinder 900 compared to those having few captured images. In one embodiment, a user of a shared image device such as a digital camera or camcorder visually scans around a room during a sharing session such as a birthday party, and those kids who have been photographed often might get some indication on the viewfinder 900. As an example, less captured subjects may “sparkle” compared with more captured subjects. In one embodiment, such functionality can be provided depending largely on the real-time recognizers that can analyze or store the identity of particular individuals. Areas in the viewfinder 900 that are more valuable to photograph might sparkle or display an outline or be color-coded in certain embodiments of the viewfinders for the shared image devices. An explicit monetary value indicator might also be associated with these valuable areas.

In certain embodiments, positional information such as those from global positioning system (GPS), metadata, or those including reference to some geographic location, particular individual, or setting can be used to indicate where certain pictures have been captured. For example, if outdoors, then GPS derived positional information can be used to indicate the physical location, and therefore information about the subject, of a particular photograph.

Consider that the viewfinder 900 display indicates that a large number of pictures have been captured of the same birthday cake, etc. In certain embodiments, this similar-composition shared image can be applied to devices lacking a sharing mechanism, as well as a shared image device 101. For example, if a particular user has captured a large number of images of one particular object, they would likely want to have an indication of it so that they can change the subject of further images. In another embodiment, perhaps a birds-eye view can be provided on at least some of the shared image devices to indicate where prior shared images in the sharing session have been captured. The recognition algorithm can vary widely in scope. For example, in one embodiment, positional information relating to where shared images have been captured could be indicated and searched, based on derived GPS coordinates and/or other positional information. In one embodiment, those shared images that the current shared image device (or any particular shared image device) has captured can be highlighted in some manner along the bottom, side, top, etc. of the viewfinder 900.

In certain embodiments, pictures can be sorted based on color schemes, or color map queries. An example might be considering N shared images that appear most similar to M shared images (where M and N identify particular shared images) from a computational perspective. In those instances, images that have been stored in memory can be quickly accessed and returned to one or more of shared image devices. This type of task can be configured to, for example, view images chronologically, based on their subject, based on their location, or based on their value, etc. can be achieved using commercially available pattern recognition programs that are configured to recognize such patterns. Instead of viewing the shared images based on their time sequences, the images are sorted based at least partially on composition in certain embodiments of shared image devices. Image processing or signal processing techniques can be applied to the shared image devices to determine certain characteristics of the shared images.

As technology improves, more memory storing-capabilities will likely be provided to many individual shared image devices such as digital cameras, camcorders, printers, and other such capturing and peripheral devices. The cost of individual digital shared images will likely continue to decrease as the associated technology improves. The sharing or copying of a considerable number of shared images from one capturing shared image device to another will become more affordable, especially as memory storage cost drops.

Other types of shared image sorting, shared image querying, or shared image storing techniques may be provided by a computer after the shared images could have been obtained or retained from a digital camera, camcorder, or web site. However, this feature will also likely be useful for the sharing mechanism between multiple shared image devices.

In one embodiment, the most recently input information (e.g., one or few shared images) of the sessions shared image devices 101, such as digital cameras, can also be shown on the viewfinder 900 such as shown with respect to FIGS. 16 and 22-25. For example, display the last five or ten shared images captured in one embodiment. In another embodiment, thumbnails of the images as described with respect to FIG. 23 can be provided (e.g., the last four thumbnails that provide an image having a greatly reduced resolution and dimension from the original image). Alternatively, the metadata can also indicate the time that each image has been captured by the member shared image devices that have been participating in the session (e.g., organize by the latest captured images). These figures are intended to be illustrative in nature, not limiting in scope.

In certain above-described embodiments of the viewfinders 900 as described for example with respect to FIGS. 16, and 22-26, the remote capturing portion 910 can be inserted as a distinctive window or text that is layered above a separate local capturing portion 908. This viewfinder configuration enhances use of the local viewfinder while monitoring shared images that might have originated from remote devices.

A variety of viewfinder displays can be provided, such as illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26. The embodiment of the viewfinder 900 as described with respect to FIG. 25 contains an inset portion 930 that indicates how many images have been captured at a particular session in each of a variety of geographic locations. For example, the number of photographs captured in a living room, kitchen area, dining room, or outside is indicated. The number of images that have been captured can further be segmented according to the configuration of the particular shared image devices (e.g., the total captured images that have been captured in the living room include three from shared image device 1, five from shared image device 2, etc.). The geographic positioning of the shared images can further be displayed in any desired manner. Such description of the number of images taken within portions of houses can be indicated by a user inputting, for example, the general layout and positioning of the rooms within the house using, for example, software that the user can use to draw the various rooms.

The user of each shared image device might thereupon be prompted as to the specific room, region, or other locational area in which a particular shared image can be captured. Alternately, additional positioning equipment such as a GPS unit can be installed in each shared image device, and the locations of the photographs and thereupon be applied to the particular rooms depending upon the derived GPS positions (e.g., as described by metadata).

Another embodiment of the viewfinder 900 is described with respect to the inset 1502 of FIG. 26, in which the view finder indicates the number of images captured of each subject within the session. Certain embodiments of the viewfinder 900 can indicate the number of images captured of each subject by each respective shared image device. The inset 1502 indicates, for example, that only two images have been captured of Jessie, and as such, she might be a prime candidate to be the subject of more images. Such indications of the number of images captured of each particular subject can be either manual (e.g., each user of a shared image device indicates the name of the subject for each image) or substantially automatic (e.g., the shared image device contains some recognition device that recognizes the identity of each subject for the shared images captured during the session, and thereby determines the identity of the subject for each image). There can be a number of different embodiments or versions of recognition software that can be utilized in different embodiments of the shared image devices, as described within this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of a status insert 1504, as included in the viewfinder 900 as described with respect to FIG. 26, can indicate the percentage of the operational resources for the shared image device that have been utilized. The used resources as indicated in the status insert 1504 can include, for example, the number of images captured, the number of images remaining, the percentage of storage memory remaining, the amount of battery life remaining, etc. Certain embodiments of the viewfinder as described with respect to FIG. 26 can be configurable to obtain or retain shared images. The rate of obtaining or retaining by that shared image device as well as the memory storage size of that shared image device largely determines how much time will remain until some prescribed duration is reached for capturing shared images.

As such, metadata can be associated with a particular shared image. For example, metadata can indicate a camera in a sharing session that took the shared image, the owner of the camera that took the shared image, the geographic location that the shared image was captured, the identity of an individual being imaged, subject of the shared image, the identity of the particular sharing session, etc.

Certain embodiments of shared image devices 101 involve “framing”, in which a shared image device such as a digital camera or camcorder can combine to yield a combined image, and/or a framed image, as described in a viewfinder with respect to FIG. 27. Another embodiment of the viewfinder 900 displays the local capturing portion 908 within the remote capturing portion 910, that together yied the combined or framed image. These embodiments of viewfinders can be used to provide a view of the combined or framed image that can be captured and/or otherwise processed. For example, the combined of framed image that is captured by, for example, a first shared image device 101 largely reflects that provided within the viewfinder, in which a local subject contained within the local capturing portion 908, can be inserted into a remote capturing portion that may have been previously or remotely imaged (that can be captured by another shared image device and/or even the same shared image device at a different time). The combined image that is imaged can thereby, for example, be formed by combining at least a portion of a first image captured at a local capturing portion 908 (e.g., captured by a local shared image device) with at least a portion of a second image captured at a remote capturing portion 910 (e.g., captured either by the local or by a remote shared image device). For example, the viewfinder 900 as shown in FIG. 27 can illustrate the appearance of the combined image to a user over the viewfinder 900.

In one embodiment, the local shared image device can be provided with a panoramic vision. The panoramic view formed partially by including other shared images can be configured to appear in the viewfinder 900 as a ghosted feature as displayed in FIG. 27. For example, the area of the combined or framed image outside of the dotted lines in FIG. 27 might represent those images captured previously, such as a picture of Mt. Rushmore, Yosemite, portions of New York, etc., typically on a sunny day, at sunset, or at some other particularly photogenic period. The currently-imaged portion that is shown within the dotted lines can include the local capturing portion 908, which in many cases includes the immediate subject (e.g., wife, family, etc.). It is to be understood that certain embodiments of the shared image devices may not only share substantially-simultaneously captured images, but they may also share multiple images that have been captured at different times, different days, and even at different locations compared to when one or more portions of the images have been taken.

A variety of graphical user interface (GUI) techniques (GUIs, in general, are commercially available) can be applied where the local capturing portion 908 is integrated within the remote capturing portion 910, as described with respect to FIG. 27. Such varying techniques of overlaying GUI windows, for example, are familiar to many users and designers of windows-based operating systems such as Windows or Mac.

It might be interesting, for example, to combine multiple ones of these framed, shared images using a similar ghosted feature to provide the combined or framed shared image. Similarly, embodiment involves providing a three-dimensional shared image using multiple photographs (e.g., two, three, or more) of the same shared object from different angles. A variety of imaging applications, such as providing a driving or aircraft simulator, may be accomplished in which a variety of shared images are overlaying other shared images, at which certain of the overlaying shared images can include motion images to our present, for example, motion of instruments associated with such simulators. Such interlaying of images may provide a particularly realistic image.

From another aspect, such overlaying of static and/or motion images as associated with many embodiments of a share mechanism described within this disclosure relative to some description of where to place a particular shared room image device to achieve some multi-image effect with other shared image devices utilizing windowing or similar GUI techniques. Some software can be utilized to achieve the panoramic/3-dimensional/or other effects as desired. Certain embodiments of viewfinders for shared image devices involves using other people's shared image devices such as cameras, to insert old bookmarks at locations in where their cameras could have been located.

One viewfinder 900 embodiment involves using other people's shared image devices such as cameras, and put old bookmarks at locations in where their cameras could have been located.

In yet another embodiment, the viewfinder 900 of the shared image device can be provided with an indicator that provides positional information as to where the images have been captured. Such positional information can range from, but not be limited to, metadata that contains the latitude/longitude, GPS waypoint, within a known commercial location (e.g., at Sears Starbucks, etc.), at some residential location (within the living room at the Jones'), etc.

Examples of Variable Resolution

Different embodiments of the shared image devices can provide images with different resolutions. In fact, certain shared image devices can alter the resolution of their images. Certain embodiments of shared image devices can increase the number of images that can be shared or imaged by adjusting the resolution of one or more of the images. In certain embodiments of shared image devices, the entirety of, portions of, or information relating to, the images captured during a sharing session can be viewed on the viewfinder of the shared image device. Conceivably, the ones that a user has captured, or that satisfy some other criteria, will be accepted at the highest resolution. Varying the image resolution therefore partially pertains to the capacity of the shared image device, as described above. Other images will be accepted at low resolutions. In certain embodiments, the lower resolution images can be kept, rejected, or selected having a corresponding higher resolution image obtained or retained in the future.

Commercially available technology can provide always-on video, for certain embodiments of shared image devices. Such always-on technology can likely be applied to shared image devices. As such, actuating the sharing mechanism may be one technique for determining interest of a particular shared image, wherein another user of a shared image device can provide feedback via audio as to how a shared image can be altered (e.g., modify the subject, vary the resolution or zoom of the image, etc.). If the current image appears interesting, one user of a shared image device can turn on an audio microphone to communicate with another shared image device, and either capture a current image and/or a current sound. Additionally, if there is one image of particular interest, it may be desirable to obtain or retain five images chronologically on either side of that image that had been captured by that particular shared image device.

Consider a shared image device application such as a friend providing live pictures of a ski resort, a beach area, and/or a snowy pass that have been captured using a share mechanism, wherein the current weather conditions make a difference. The sharing mechanism 102 can be used to access such information on a near-real-time basis. The images that can be accessed on a near-real-time basis may have reduced highest resolution. As such, it may be desirable to reduce the resolution for certain imaging applications.

The variable resolution control represents another embodiment of a capacity-control device. Consider that lower-resolution images (e.g., thumbnails and/or metadata) generally require less memory storage than higher-resolution images. As such, for a given memory, a larger number of lower-resolution images can be stored than higher-resolution images. In addition, capturing higher-resolution images often utilizes more battery life than with lower-resolution images. All of these factor into the type of image that is to be stored.

In many embodiments of shared image devices, converting the resolution of images may utilize considerable device energy, such as battery life. As such, to reduce the drain on the energy expended by certain battery-powered devices during resolution conversion processes; it may be desired to transfer images to another shared image device(s) so that the other shared image device (that presumably has greater energy, such as a printer or computer that may be plugged in) can vary the resolution of the images.

Further consider those instances where a user of a shared image device has filled their device with high-resolution images. This user will be able to utilize capacity control by storing further images as thumbnails and/or metadata that in certain embodiments can be accessed later when the user obtains or retains their current image, or otherwise obtains more memory. In certain embodiments, the user will be able to access the high-resolution versions of all of the desired images from home, or some other location, via a network.

Many shared image devices that are configured to capture images and/or otherwise process images in different resolutions. Within this disclosure, the term “resolution” provides a measurement of image detail, such as can be expressed as pixels per inch, dots per inch, or samples per inch, etc. In certain embodiments, the files size of an image is a function of its resolution, and with certain embodiments of relatively limited storage-capability cameras, relatively few high resolution images can be captured. It may be desired to convert the resolution of certain images depending upon their particular application and/or the configuration of the particular device.

A variety of devices including, but not limited to, shared image devices can be configured to perform a variety of functions including, but not limited to, imaging, capturing, obtaining, retaining, storing, storing and forwarding, and/or otherwise processing images depending upon the particular resolution(s) for that device, which may differ from resolutions of other devices.

Changing the resolution of an image represents one example of an image transformation. A number of shared image devices that process images can therefore be configurable for performing one or more image transformations. Within this disclosure, examples of such image transformations include, but are not limited to, changing the resolution of one or more images, resampling one or more images, adjusting an exposure of one or more images, adjusting some image content recognition of the one or more images, adjusting image composition of one or more images, and/or modifying at least some metadata associated with the one more images. This disclosure provides a number of embodiments of a resolution conversion portion that can be integrated within the shared image device, or alternatively can be located outside of the shared image device and operatively coupled thereto.

The resolution conversion portion can in certain embodiments, but not others, act to alter the resolution of images that have been captured or otherwise obtained. As described within this disclosure, certain embodiments of the resolution conversion portion are configurable to increase or decrease the resolution of the image such as by utilizing pixel-interpolation and/or combination of multiple images. As also described within this disclosure, certain embodiments of the resolution conversion portion are configurable to decrease or increase the resolution of the image. Different embodiments of the resolution conversion portion are described herein. Within this disclosure, the terms “resolution conversion” and “resampling” can in many instances but not others be considered similar, since both can involve similar processes of altering image intensity and/or color values. Resampling can in certain embodiments, but not others, be equated to sizing the resolution of an image upward or downward; and can in certain embodiments but not others can be implemented by respectively adding or removing pixels from a given image as described in this disclosure.

Within this disclosure, the term “changing the resolution” of an image may pertain in certain embodiments, but not others, to altering the color values and/or the color intensities of a particular image. As such “increasing the resolution” of an image may pertain to increasing the density of pixels that can be provided with distinctly variable color values or color intensities. Decreasing the resolution of an image may pertain to decreasing the density of the pixels forming the image. During a resolution conversion process, in certain embodiments of a display or projector, the footprint of pixels can actually be suitably altered to effectively change the resolution of the at least one image.

In certain embodiments of display devices or projectors, a single pixel intensity can be implemented utilizing a plurality of neighboring pixels, in which each of the neighboring pixels can each have a substantially identical color value and intensity. As such, the plurality of pixels can act as a single pixel with a footprint that corresponds to the planar area encompassing the plurality of pixels.

Within this disclosure, shared image devices are considered those devices that are configurable to image or capture at least one image such as digital cameras or camcorders. The utilization of capturing shared image devices has recently changed considerably (and is expected to continue to change) as the expense of digital storage media continues to decrease while the technology and ease of operation of the digital storage media improves. Capturing images using digital cameras or camcorders can each be equated with photography as performed by conventional film cameras.

Certain embodiments of this disclosure thereby provide a mechanism or technique by which an image capturing shared image device, such as a digital camera or camcorder, can resample or perform resolution conversion of images contained therein. Such resolution conversion or resampling techniques can be energy intensive, and therefore can utilize a considerable amount of energy from the battery of the digital camera. In many embodiments, such resampling by a device may thereby alter the number of pixels that can be set within an image. Images captured at different resolutions can be optimized for different purposes. For example, if one or more particular images are intended to be displayed over a computer monitor, and the resolution of the computer monitor is a limiting factor on the displayed resolution, than a relatively low resolution for the image may be completely satisfactory for its intended purpose. If a particular image is being printed on a relatively large sheet of paper as a print, then it may be desired to have a considerably higher resolution image for its intended purpose.

Additionally, certain images can be utilized by more than one user, and/or for more than one purpose. For example, one user may wish to have both a copy of an image at a particular resolution to be used for one media, e.g., a computer monitor; and another copy of the same image at another resolution to be used for another media, e.g., a printed copy. As such, it may be desired to resample or convert the resolution of a particular image based upon the intended use or desires of each particular user. In those instances where a camera's memory can only store a prescribed number of images, it may be desired to decrease the resolution of certain images, or alternatively increase the resolution of certain images, depending upon the particular use of, and/or the device utilizing, those images. As such, certain embodiments of this disclosure provide a mechanism by which a single image, or a group of images of a fixed or controllable size can be resampled therein.

Advances in technology to shared image devices (such as flash memory) provide for data storage of a relatively large amount of image data within shared image devices. Such increases in the amount of image data that can be stored can be reflected by more images being stored and/or at least some of the images that are being stored having a greater resolution. In many embodiments of the shared image device as described within this disclosure, it is envisioned that the shared image device can be provided with relatively sophisticated processing capabilities, which will allow for image processing that will allow for resampling and/or resolution conversion.

Such resolution conversion, or resampling, as performed by the resolution conversion portion of the shared image devices, can utilize a considerable amount of device energy capacity. Such device energy capacity is especially important for those devices that have a limited energy sources, such as batteries. Within this disclosure, the shared image device energy capacity can be can represent a variety of techniques including internal battery life estimate, replaceable battery life estimate, auxiliary battery life estimate, or the like. As such, in this disclosure, the term “energy capacity” as applied to the shared image device is intended to apply to the capacity of batteries or other energy sources that supply electrical power to the shared image device, regardless where the energy device is located or mounted with respect to the shared image device. Some other power source from a battery, such as a continual energy supply or an uninterruptible or other energy supply, can also be applied to the shared image device while remaining within the scope of the present invention.

Many of the indicators 64, 66, 68, 70, and/or 72 that are included in the device operational capacity indicator 60, as described with respect to FIG. 1, can be related to a limited energy that may be contained within the shared image device. As such, the indicated results of the capacity indicators may be interrelated, and the controller 603 may be effective in indicating, based on multiple energy considerations, the true operational capacity for the shared image device 101.

In one embodiment, this disclosure therefore provides a number of techniques by which the amount of energy that is utilized by the shared image device to perform the resolution conversion is estimated or monitored. The user of certain embodiments of the shared image device can include an indicator that provides an indication of the energy necessary to perform the conversion, in many embodiments of which can then be compared on the indicator to the amount of energy currently included in the shared image device. Other embodiments of the shared image device can commence conversion of resolution of one or more images only in those circumstances that the shared image device has sufficient energy to perform the conversion.

In certain embodiments of the shared image device, the shared image device energy capacity can thereby act as one limiting factor for imaging or resolution conversion for the shared image device, based on whether the shared image device has sufficient energy to perform the operation on one or more images. As such, other device capacity techniques or mechanisms can include, but are not limited to, a processing power capacity, a storage memory capacity, or an available computation time capacity. In actuality, many of the device capacities are related. For example, an available computation time capacity for a particular shared image device may relate to an energy capacity for that shared image device, such that increasing the device's energy capacity leads to an increase in the devices computation time capacity and/the devices storage memory capacity.

Certain shared image device capacities can therefore, in certain embodiments, be considered as a limit on some prescribed process that can be performed by that shared image device. For example, if a shared image device has a limited energy supply that is sufficient to capture some limited number of images, than the shared image device may not be able to be utilized after imaging that number of images without an energy source charge, insertion of new batteries, etc. Different examples of a prescribed process that may be of interest to the user of the shared image device therefore include, but are not limited to, altering a resolution of an image, capturing or imaging an image, operating a flash mechanism, obtaining an image, retaining an image, storing and/or forwarding an image, etc. As such, it is to be understood that many of the shared image device's operational capacity capabilities can be heavily burdened by performing typical imaging and other processor intensive operations.

This disclosure thereby provides for a number of different embodiments of a mechanism or technique to estimate one or more operational resources of a shared image device that are utilized to perform an image transformation. The mechanism or technique thereby estimates whether the shared image device has adequate operational capacity to perform the image transformation to transform the one or more images. Different embodiments of the image transformation estimator can include, but are not limited to, and image resolution conversion estimator, and image exposure adjustment estimator, and image metadata modification on estimator, an image content recognition estimator, and an image composition adjustment estimator.

By estimating whether the shared image device has adequate device operational capacity to perform a particular image transformation allows the shared image devices to perform the image transformation if it does, indeed, have sufficient operational capacity. However, if the shared image device does not have adequate device operational capacity to perform the particular image transformation, the shared image device can transfer the image information to another device, that does indeed have the capabilities to perform the image transformation. Another option is to indicate the amount of device capacity (e.g., energy) that would be required by the shared image device to perform the particular image transformation, and compare that to the total device capacity for that shared image device. As such, if a particular image transformation will consume a large percentage of the total device capacity for a particular shared image devices, then the user may decide not to perform that image transformation.

Certain devices such as computers, PDAs, printers, display devices, processing devices, etc. can be provided with an electric cord or a relatively large battery, which represents a virtually infinite energy supply. There are a large variety of commercially-available shared image devices including, but not limited to: cameras, printers, facsimile machines, computers, personal display assistants (PDA), etc. Each shared image device includes some imaging program, such as produced with the hardware, software, or firmware, that is configured to perform some imaging process that is consonant with the intended purpose of the shared image device. Examples of imaging processing techniques include, but are not limited to, data compression, data decompression, resolution enhancement, resolution reduction, noise reduction, filtering, etc. As such, in certain instances users of shared image devices can consider that it often may be beneficial to transfer some or all of the images to such large-capacity devices.

Within the disclosure, the terms “images”, or “image information” can pertain to full images, portions of images, segments of full images, thumbnails of images, information that describes particular images such as metadata (that can contain such information as the subject of the image, identifying who took the image, where the image was captured, the reference number of the image, etc.). Within this disclosure, metadata can be associated with a particular image or set of images. For example, a particular image may include metadata that describes such information as the subject of the image, the date and time of the image, location of the image, the owner of the shared image device, etc. It is envisioned that the metadata that is associated with the particular image can be modified as, for example, the image itself is altered such as by changing the resolution. In certain embodiments, metadata can be used during processing of the image. For example, if it is desired to determine all images captured by a particular user or including a particular subject, the metadata can be queried in certain instances to derive one or more images to satisfy that query.

Within this disclosure, the terms “image representation” or “image” can pertain to images, thumbnails of images, icons that pertain to images, portions of images, images having altered resolution, information pertaining to images such as metadata, etc. The term “obtain” can apply to obtaining shared images either by capturing or by data transfer from another shared image device. The term “retain” can apply to storing shared images for some duration regardless how temporary or permanent the storage duration within a memory storage device.

Certain embodiments of still images can include photographs or digital images that can be captured by the image device such as, for example, a digital camera. Certain embodiments of motion images can include videos that may be captured by the image device such as, for example, a camcorder. A variety of embodiments of the sharing mechanism can therefore handle such exemplary shared images as digital still images or digital motion images that are either alone or in combination with video, audio, music, etc.

One embodiment of a shared image network 100 is described with respect to FIG. 6. The shared image network 100 pertains to any motion picture imaging system or still picture imaging system that is within the described intended scope of the present disclosure, unless otherwise indicated. One embodiment of the shared image network 100 includes a shared image device 101, an optional peripheral shared image device 120, and an optional communication link 104.

The shared image device 101 is configurable to capture images. In different embodiments, the shared image device 101 can be configured as, but not limited to, a digital camera, a camcorder, a cellular phone with picture taking capabilities, a computer or PDA with picture taking capabilities, etc. The shared image device 101 can be operationally sub-divided into an imaging portion 615 and data storage portion 614. Different embodiments of the shared image device 101 can capture, or photograph, a variety of images including, but not limited to, still images, motion images, video, audio, thumbprints, or other information relating to the images such as metadata. Different embodiments of the shared image device 101 can be configured to capture, obtain, retain, or otherwise process a variety of images including, but not limited to, color images, grayscale images, etc.

One embodiment of the shared image device 101 is configured to convert to the resolution of images that have been captured, retained, or obtained to a different resolution. This disclosure describes a variety of illustrative image transformation techniques for shared image devices, that are not considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. For different embodiments of the shared image device 101, depending upon the functional purpose of the shared image device 101 and other considerations; the resolution can be converted from either a higher resolution to a lower resolution, or alternatively from a lower resolution to a higher resolution. One aspect of such resolution conversion as may be performed by many embodiments while not other embodiments of the shared image devices 101, is that such resolution conversion techniques can consume a large amount of energy for the shared image devices such as battery life.

The resolution of the images within the shared image device 101 can be adjusted manually, automatically, or semi-automatically, utilizing the different embodiments of the resolution conversion techniques as described herein. Such manual adjustments of the shared image device can be performed, for example, by a user responding to input that is displayed on the viewfinder; and based on the users previous experience, understanding how much energy is necessary to perform such conversion. In other embodiments, altering of a resolution level can be performed substantially automatically utilizing the controller 603. For example, the controller 603 can receive input or monitor the current or recent energy state or life expectancy of the battery or other energy device, consider the amount of energy utilized by the shared image device 101 to convert the resolution of the at least one image based at least partially on the number of images whose resolution is to be converted. The shared image devices 101 can contain a wide variety of displays to provide this information to the user. In many embodiments, the device operational capacity indicator (e.g., an energy level indicator) of the shared image device can reduce the number of images that can be captured, and thereby increase the effective useful life of the shared image device. In many embodiments, but not others, it may be desirable to limit the energy consumed by the display similar to it being desirable to reduce the amount of energy utilized by the resolution conversion.

The image resolution conversion energy monitoring technique can also include a number of optional steps. If the shared image device does have sufficient energy to convert the resolution of the one or more images, then the shared image device can convert the one or more images from the first resolution to the second resolution. If the shared image device does not have sufficient energy to convert the resolution of the one or more images, then the shared image device can transfer the one or more images from the shared image device to a second device (such as the peripheral shared image device 120). The conversion of the resolution of the one or more images can be performed at the second device from the first resolution to the second resolution. Presumably, the energy level available to the second device that can be configured in certain embodiments as a peripheral shared image device 120 and in other embodiments as a device that does not necessarily capture or photograph images, but instead processes images. The ability to convert the resolution of the images is presumably greater in the second device than in the shared image device, for example, the peripheral shared image device 120 can be a device that is plugged into an electric outlet, or contain a larger battery, to receive a substantially continual supply of electricity.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate front views of two embodiments of a shared image device 101 that includes energy level indicators 302. In this disclosure, the energy level of a particular device represents one embodiment of the device's operational capacity. As such, the energy level indicator 302 represents one embodiment of an operational capacity indicator. Therefore, the energy level indicator 302 can also be considered as an operational capacity indicator. Certain embodiments of the energy level indicator 302 or operational capacity indicator are configurable to indicate the total energy that the shared image device has remaining in its energy source such as, but not limited to: battery life, additional energy source life, etc. In one embodiment, the energy level indicator 302 is provided within a camera display or viewfinder 304 that is contained within the shared image device 101. Certain embodiments of the camera displays or viewfinders 304 can be provided for such shared image devices as digital cameras or camcorders, and can include liquid crystal display (LCD) displays, optical displays, and a variety of other displays. In certain embodiments of the energy level indicator 302, the energy level indicator can be temporarily provided in a manner that can be controlled by the user of the shared image device 101. As such, if the user sought to see, or visually monitor, the energy level, then a menu-driven option could be selected or alternatively a button could be pressed to display (or alternatively, to deselect to not display) the energy level. In other embodiments of the shared image device 101, the energy level indicator 302 can be provided separately from the camera display or viewfinder such as being built in, as a separate display, within the body of the shared image device.

In one embodiment of the shared image device 101, the amount of energy utilized by the shared image devices to perform an image resolution conversion process of one, or more of the images relating to the shared image device can generally be determined based either on prior device history, are generally on operations by similar shared image devices. For example, a user of the shared image device 101 may understand that resolution conversion of 15 images having a particular pixel dimension (and color value) may utilize 20 percent of the energy of the shared image device. As such, in one embodiment, the energy level indicator 302 can indicate the number of images that can be imaged by the shared image device based upon the current energy level of the shared image device. Within this disclosure, the amount of energy necessary to perform a particular resolution conversion is intended to be illustrative in nature, and not limited in scope. As an illustrative example, if the energy level indicator 302 indicates that the shared image device has 40% of its energy remaining, the user may not desire to perform a resolution conversion on a relatively large number of images (e.g., 50 images).

Such resolution conversion depending, at least in part, on energy of the shared image devices 101 can be automated, or semi-automated, as well by suitable programming within the controller 603. It may be desired in certain embodiments of the shared image device to illustrate the number of images that have their resolution converted, based on the particular energy level from the energy level indicator 302 of the shared image device 101. For example, FIG. 8 shows one embodiment of an image resolution conversion numerical indicator 402 that indicates, based on the particular energy level indicated by the energy level indicator 302, that twelve images can have their resolution converted as indicated by the image resolution conversion numerical indicator 402. Since, in certain embodiments of the shared image device 101 while not in others, the structure and operation of the image resolution conversion numerical indicator 402 and the energy level indicator 302 can be associated with each other, and such association can be indicated on the camera display or viewfinder based largely upon their relative positioning such as, for example, positioning the two indicators 302, and 402 near to each other within a shared image device display or viewfinder 304, or in another portion of the shared image device for different embodiments of the shared image device.

The particular configuration of the energy level indicator 302 and to the image resolution conversion numerical indicator 402, as illustrated with respect to FIG. 8, is intended to be illustrative in nature, while not limiting in scope. For example, the image resolution conversion numerical indicator 402 can also be a bar graph that indicates the number of similar images to those that are being considered to be resampled, that can be resampled, based upon the current energy level of the shared image device. As such, depending on the particular operation, dimension, and desired appearance of the image resolution conversion numerical indicator 402 or the energy level indicator 302, either of the indicators 402 or 302 can be configured as a numeric indicator, as text, as a bar graph, as a graph, as a percentage indicator, or as any other numerical or percentage indicator as desired. It is also to be understood that the indicators 302 or 402 can be configured to appear as desired based upon user input, device utilization, and device condition, and be non-visible during other times. For example, when a user is providing input to alter the resolution, it is likely that both indicators 302 and 402 should be made visible over the camera display or viewfinder. During other periods, the indicators 302 or 402 may not be shown in certain embodiments of the shared image device 101.

As described in this disclosure, there are a number of embodiments of resolution conversion to be performed by certain embodiments of the shared image device 101. Such imaging conversion processes can be generally categorized as either increasing the resolution or decreasing the resolution of images being captured by, contained within, or retained within the shared image device 101.

Examples of Image Transformations

FIG. 9 shows one embodiment of a resolution conversion process that increases the resolution of the images. Considering this resolution conversion technique, a number of current pixels 903 (four shown) are contained in the original image prior to the resolution conversion process. A number of added pixels 905 (eight shown) are added by the resolution conversion process. A color value is assigned to each added pixel 905 depending upon the position of the added pixel with respect to one or more other current pixels 903. For example, and in one embodiment, if an added pixel is located between two current pixels, than each color value (the color value may be subdivided into three color values including red, green, and blue in one embodiment, or grayscale in another embodiment) can be determined as a mathematical function based at least in one part on the distance between the current pixels, in the color values of each current pixel. For illustrative purposes only, assume that in the upper row of FIG. 9, the top left current pixel has a blue-color value of six, and the top right current pixel has the blue color value of nine. Since there are two added pixels between the two current pixels in the upper row, following mathematical operations such as may be performed by calculator, and/or by computer, or by other techniques in certain embodiments, wherein the lefthanded added pixel in the upper row of FIG. 9 might be expected to have a blue color value of seven assigned thereto, while the right handed added pixel in the upper row might be expected to have a blue color value of eight. Such mathematical computations can be applied to data storage in one dimension, or two dimensions in different embodiments.

In those instances that the color value does not mathematically round off evenly, in certain embodiments but not others, the color value can be assigned to the next-closest integer or fractional value provided by the shared image device. Similar numerical computation can be preformed for each of the green color value, red color value, and/or gray-scale color value and supplies to the particular image(s) whose resolution is being converted. Such mathematical functions that are utilized to derive the color values of the added pixels can depend, at least in part, on well-known and established mathematical weighing operations that could be performed within the controller 603 and as described with respect to FIG. 6.

While one embodiment of the resolution conversion process, that is utilized to increase at the resolution of a stored image, is described with respect to the upper row of current pixels and added pixels in FIG. 9 along a single axis (e.g., in the horizontal direction), such techniques can also be applied along another axis, or even along a diagonal, utilizing generally known weighing techniques such as described in a large variety of textbooks and articles, and commercially available in a variety of products and textbooks.

In a number of embodiments of the resolution conversion techniques of certain shared image devices 101, the actual dimension (e.g., footprint) or the intensity of light generated by the pixel can be modified by the conversion. For example, even though FIG. 9 shows a number of embodiments of current pixels having a number of pixels added therebetween during a resolution conversion technique, in certain embodiments, the current dimensions of the pixels may utilize a considerable amount of space, such that the display or viewfinder would not allow the addition of added pixels of the same dimension in between the current pixels. In those embodiments, the footprint of each current pixel over the display may be decreased in dimension, in such a manner that the added pixels can be inserted within an existing pixel array. In certain embodiments, to increase a resolution, the color intensity of the current pixels can be reduced, and a color intensity of the remaining pixels can compensate for the reduced intensity. As such, the overall color intensity values of the image can be maintained, the resolution of the image can be improved, and the final image can appear sharper following the increase of resolution in many embodiments of the shared image devices 101.

Another embodiment of resolution conversion process such as can be performed by the controller 603 of FIGS. 6 and/or 15 is described with respect to FIG. 10. The FIG. 10 embodiment of resolution conversion process acts to decrease the resolution of an original image. For example, the original image will contain the remaining pixels 1003 as well as the removed pixels 1005 as shown in FIG. 10. One embodiment of the resolution conversion process acts to remove any illumination or color projected by the removed pixels 1005 from the original indenture to produce the decreased resolution image. As such, in certain embodiments, only certain pixels are selected to be the remaining pixels 1003 whose color values are maintained, while the color values of the removed pixels 1005 are effectively discarded.

In another embodiment of the resolution conversion process that acts as a resolution reduction technique, as described with respect to FIG. 10, at least certain ones of the color values of the removed pixels are not discarded, however they may be stored for latter computational or display use. Such embodiments of resolution reduction techniques can utilize stored color values for the removed pixels to, at least partially, reconstruct the original image. As such, certain embodiments of resolution conversion processes (including both the resolution reduction and resolution increasing techniques) would utilize a non-trivial amount of energy to perform.

In certain embodiments of the shared image device, during certain embodiments of the decreasing resolution technique such as described with respect to FIG. 10, the actual dimension of the remaining pixels can be modified, and/or the intensity of each of the pixels can be adjusted, to compensate for the removal of the remote pixels. For example, in one embodiment, as described with respect to FIG. 10, the color intensity information pertaining to each of the removed pixels can mirror one or more of the color value for the remaining pixels. For example, in one embodiment, assuming that the remaining pixel in the upper left-hand side of the array of pixels has given color value, and five removed pixels can be assigned the same value as the upper-left remaining pixel (or any other selected remaining pixel). In another embodiment, each pixel area corresponding to a removed pixel can be assigned by a new color intensity pixel value, relating to some weighted value pertaining to distances to proximate remaining pixels.

In yet other embodiments, the dimension of a particular remaining pixel can be applied to similar areas as an original remaining pixel, wherein the actual dimensions of the image is produced. As such, in the image as described with respect to FIG. 10, the final image may be e.g., some fraction as wide and another fraction as high as the original image.

By decreasing the resolution, and in certain embodiments of the shared image device, a relatively large number of images can be stored and/or reviewed. In many embodiments, the resolution can be reduced without seriously altering the resulting images, depending partially on the intended use of the image. For example, assume that a shared image device is being utilized to capture images of a house being sold. Under these instances, the resulting images of relatively low-resolution images are perfectly satisfactory to convey the desired information about that particular application. As technology improves, many embodiments of shared image devices are provided with high resolution capabilities. The present disclosure thereby provides a number of mechanisms to be able to modify the resolution (either increase or decrease the resolution), after a particular image has been captured depending upon the particular resolution.

Another embodiment of resolution conversion process such as can be performed by the controller 603 of FIGS. 6 and/or 15 is described with respect to FIG. 11. The FIG. 11 embodiment of the resolution conversion process acts to increase the resolution of the original image that is being processed to the combined image. In general, the FIG. 11 embodiment of the resolution conversion process combines original image A with original image B to produce the combined image. The resolution conversion process relies upon interleaving the pixels from the original image A with the pixels from the original image B. While the original image A and the original image B is shown in FIG. 11 as having similar resolution, it is to be understood that the resolution of the original images can vary in many embodiments of the resolution conversion process. The pixels from the different original images can be interleaved within the same row, within the same column, on the diagonal basis, and/or any combination thereof. The embodiment of the resolution conversion process as described with respect to FIG. 11 therefore does not destroy any of the color values as described in this disclosure, but in fact interleaves the pixels while maintaining their color value to produce the combined image.

Certain embodiments of the resolution enhancement techniques as described with respect to FIG. 11 therefore may not utilize the amount of mathematical computation to derive the color values in certain embodiments of the resolution enhancement techniques as described with respect to FIG. 9. In many embodiments, it is important that at least portions of the original image portions be captured of the same general image. In certain embodiments, however the original image portions can be captured at different angles, at different times, from different locations, etc. as desired by the user to create a desired image. Such combining of original images to derive a desired combined image may, in certain embodiments, provide more of an impression of depth, or three-dimensionality, to the combined image as well as increasing the resolution of the combined image.

There are a variety of other transformations of shared image devices that fall within the scope of the present disclosure. One such transformation includes the use of a reference image from one shared image device to perform a transformation on an image taken with (at least one) other shared image device. Suppose, for example, a first shared image device captures an image of a subject; a second shared image device captures another image of an image reference, such as a color reference such as a standard color reference card (e.g., GretagMacbeth™ ColorChecker, which is commercially available), or alternatively an object having known reference properties. The reference information (e.g., color reference) from the second shared image device can thereupon be used to adjust, for example, the white balance of the image captured by the first shared image device. This processing and/or adjustment of a captured image using a reference (e.g., color) from another shared image device can be applied to a variety of scenarios.

Consider an image captured using a gray-scale, or black and white image. Such images can be “colorized”, if desired, using desired input reference color. Suppose that another image is captured in dark or cloudy conditions, the colors of the background and/or the subject can be enhanced or provided, as desired. In the scenario, (a) the second shared image device could be a pretty rudimentary imaging device, but it also could be relatively sophisticated, and (b) the images between the first shared image device and the second shared image device could be associated by a variety of contextual information. For example, at a concert or sporting event, etc., the first shared image device might be configured to be one of several high quality imaging cameras or camcorders that are used to capture images of the concert or sporting performance in response to other user control(s) from one or more second shared image devices. The second shared image device might be a single “camera”, devoted to a single individual attending the event, or even from a remote location, that is aimed directly at a reference such as a color reference card, perhaps exposed to the same conditions (e.g., lighting) as the rest of the the location of the event such as a stage. At each detected change (e.g., lighting queue) in natural or provided lighting, the second shared image device could capture a new image. During sharing processing of the images captured by the first shared image device, the reference image information from the second shared image device could be provided with an appropriate timestamp (perhaps the most closely associated with the timestamp of the image from the first shared image device), that would be used to perform the transformation of the images.

Another transformation that can be provided by shared image devices include changing metadata associated with multiple shared image devices. Perhaps a user of a shared image device does not wish to have metadata associated with the capturing shared image device, and instead have it associated with their particular shared image device For instance, the metadata on a first user's camera should indicate that this is the first user's fifth image at the particular sharing session, instead of the second user's twentieth image (whose shared image device actually captured the image). Certain other metadata should be modifiable, such as inserting the subject's first or last name, parent's name, event particulars, etc. for a birthday party. It is also envisioned that certain metadata should not be modifiable, such as would be the case for author status for certain copywritten images. As such, certain metadata from capturing shared image devices can be provided in modifiable fields, while others can be inserted in unmodifiable fields.

Another transformation that can be performed between multiple shared image devices includes framing, such as described in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 27. With framing, a first portion of an image (e.g., subject) can be provided by a first shared image device, while a second portion of the image (e.g., background) can be provided by a second shared image device. Some image processing techniques, such as is commercially available, can be run by the first shared image device, the second shared image device, or even another device, to capture the image.

As described in this disclosure, transformations to shared images can include input and/or images provided by only a single shared image device, or alternatively transformations can include input and/or shared images provided by multiple shared image devices.

Examples of Operational Resources

Within the disclosure, flowcharts of the type described in this disclosure apply to method steps as performed by a computer or controller. The flowcharts can also apply to apparatus devices, such as a shared image device 101 that includes, e.g., a general-purpose computer or specialized-purpose computer whose structure along with the software, firmware, electromechanical devices, and/or hardware, can perform the process or technique described in the flowchart.

One embodiment of a high-level flowchart of the resolution conversion technique 1700 that is described with respect to FIGS. 17 a, 17 b, and 17 c and which includes operations 1702, 1707, and 1711; in addition to optional operations 1716, 1718, 1728, 1730, 1732, 1740, 1742, 1744, and 1746. Operation 1702 can include, but is not limited to, optional operations 1704 and 1706. The operation 1711 can include, but is not limited to, optional operations 1712 and 1714. Optional operation 1718 can include, but is not limited to, optional operations 1720, 1722, 1724, and 1726. Optional operation 1732 can include, but is not limited to, optional operations 1734 and 1736. The high-level flowcharts of FIGS. 17 a, 17 b, and 17 c should be considered in combination with the shared image device 101, as described with respect to FIG. 20. Operation 1702 can include, but is not limited to, obtaining a shared image device energy level for a shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 d, as described with respect to FIG. 20, obtains a shared image device energy level. Operation 1707 can include, but is not limited to, considering a resolution conversion energy to indicate an energy for transforming a resolution of one or more images at least partially relative to the shared image device energy level. For example, in one embodiment, the shared image device 101 d, as described with respect to FIG. 20, can obtain a shared image device energy level or energy level indicator 302, as described with respect to FIG. 7 or 8. Operation 1711 can include, but is not limited to, sharing the one or more images with at least one other shared image device, wherein the sharing the one or more images at least partially includes the transforming the resolution of the one or more images. For example, the shared image device 101 d shares one or more images with the shared image device 101 e. The obtaining a shared image device energy level for a shared image device of operation 1702 can include operation 1704, that can include, but is not limited to, obtaining a battery life estimate for the shared image device. For example, the shared image device energy level 302, of the shared image device 101 d, can include obtaining a battery life estimate for the shared image device 101 d. The obtaining a shared image device energy level for a shared image device of operation 1702 can include operation 1706, that can include, but is not limited to, obtaining a processing power estimate of the shared image device. For example, the shared image device energy level 302, of the shared image device 101 d, can include obtaining a processing power estimate for the shared image device 101 d. The sharing the one or more images with at least one other shared image device of operation 1711 can include optional operation 1712, which can include, but is not limited to, transmitting the one or more images with the at least one other shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 d transmits one or more image to the shared image device 101 e. The sharing the one or more images with at least one other shared image device of operation 1711 can include optional operation 1714, that can include, but is not limited to, receiving the one or more images from the at least one other shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 d can receive one or more images from the shared image device 101 e. Optional operation 1716 can include, but is not limited to, determining the resolution conversion energy to determine that the shared image device does have the resolution conversion energy to convert the resolution of the one or more images. For example, the shared image device 101 d can determine that the shared image device does have sufficient resolution conversion energy to convert the resolution of the one or more images. Optional operation 1718 can include, but is not limited to, converting the resolution of the one or more images. For example, the resolution of images within the shared image device 101 d is converted. The converting the resolution of the one or more images of operation 1718 can include optional operation 1720, that can include, but is not limited to, converting the one or more images to a lower resolution. For example, the resolution of the image in the shared image device 101 d, as described with respect to FIG. 20, is converted to a lower resolution. The converting the resolution of the one or more images of operation 1718 can include optional operation 1722, that can include, but is not limited to, converting the one or more images to a higher resolution. For example, the resolution of the one or more images are converted to a higher resolution. The converting the resolution of the one or more images of operation 1718 can include operation 1724, that can include, but is not limited to, converting the one or more images to a higher resolution, at least in part, by combining one or more first pixel values from the one or more images with one or more second pixel values from at least one portion of an at least one other image. For example, the resolution of the one or more images are converted, at least in part, by combining one or more first pixel values from one or more images with one or more second pixel values from another image. The converting the resolution of the one or more images of operation 1718 can include operation 1726, that can include, but is not limited to, converting the one or more images to a higher resolution, at least in part, by performing a mathematical operation relative to at least some existent pixel values of the one or more images to derive at least some intermediate pixel values. For example, the images in the shared image device 101 d can be converted to a higher resolution, at least in part, by performing a mathematical operation such as adding pixels, as described with respect to FIG. 9. The operation 1728 can include, but is not limited to, determining that the shared image device does not have the resolution conversion energy to convert the resolution of the one or more images. For example, determining that the shared image device 101 d does not have sufficient resolution conversion energy to convert a resolution of images stored therein. The operation 1730 can include, but is not limited to, transferring the one or more images from the shared image device to a second device to at least partially effect sharing of the one or more images. For example, transferring images from the shared image device 101 d to the shared image device 101 e, via the communication link 104 a, as described with respect to FIG. 20. The operation 1732 can include, but is not limited to, converting the resolution of the one or more images. For example, converting the resolution of one or more images within the shared image device 101 d. The converting the resolution of the one or more images of operation 1732 can include operation 1734, that can include, but is not limited to, converting the resolution of the one or more images at the shared image device. For example, converting the resolution of one or more images in the shared image device 101 d. The converting the resolution of the one or more images of operation 1730 can include operation 1736, that can include, but is not limited to, converting the resolution of the one or more images at the second device. For example, converting the resolution at the shared image device 101 e, as described with respect to FIG. 20. Certain embodiments of operation 1740 can include, but are not limited to, automatically controlling at least part of an operation of the shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 d automatically controls an operation of the shared image device 101 e, as described with respect to FIG. 20. Certain embodiments of operation 1742 can include, but are not limited to, controlling at least partially with a user interface an operation of the shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 d controls at least partially with a user interface an operation of the shared image device 101 e, as described with respect to FIG. 20. Certain embodiments of operation 1744 can include, but are not limited to, automatically terminating at least part of an operation of the shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 d automatically terminating an operation of the shared image device 101 e, as described with respect to FIG. 20. Certain embodiments of operation 1746 can include, but are not limited to, terminating at least partially with a user interface an operation of the shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 d terminates at least partially, using a user interface, an operation of the shared image device 101 e, as described with respect to FIG. 20. The order and/or arrangement of the operations within FIGS. 17 a, 17 b, and 17 c are intended to be nonlimiting in scope.

One embodiment of a high-level flowchart of the resolution conversion technique 1800 that is described with respect to FIGS. 18 a, 18 b, and 18 c, and which can include, but is not limited to, operations 1802, 1814, and 1834. Operation 1802 can include optional operations 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810, and 1812. Operation 1814 can include, but is not limited to, optional operations 1816, 1818, 1820, 1822, 1824, 1826, 1828, 1830, and 1832. Operation 1834 can include, but is not limited to, optional operations 1836 and 1838. The high-level flowchart of FIGS. 18 a and 18 b should be considered in combination with the shared image device 101, as described with respect to FIG. 20. One embodiment of the operation 1802 includes, but is not limited to, obtaining an operational capacity for a shared image device. For example, obtaining an operational capacity for the shared image device 2102, as described with respect to FIG. 20. Operation 1814 can include, but is not limited to, estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of one or more images based at least in part on the obtaining the operational capacity. For example, estimating an operational resource 2104 that could be used to to perform a transformation such as changing the resolution, of images within the shared image device 101 g (as described with respect to FIG. 21). Operation 1834 can include, but is not limited to, sharing the one or more images with the at least one other shared image device in a manner that allows performing the transformation of the one or more images. For example, sharing of one or more images between the shared image device 101 g, and the shared image device 101 h, utilizing the communication link 104 c, one example as described with respect to FIG. 21. The sharing the one or more images with the at least one other shared image device of operation 1834 can include optional operation 1836, that can include, but is not limited to, transmitting the one or more images at least partially from the at least one other shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 g transmitting one or more images to the shared image device 101 h. The sharing the one or more images with the at least one other shared image device of operation 1834 can include operation 1838, that can include, but is not limited to, receiving the one or more images at least partially at the at least one other shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 h receiving one or more images from the shared image device 101 g, as described with respect to FIG. 21. The obtaining an operational capacity for a shared image device of operation 1802 can include operation 1804, that can include, but is not limited to, obtaining an energy level capacity of the shared image device. For example, obtaining an energy level capacity using, for example, the shared image device energy level or energy level indicator of 302, as described with respect to FIG. 20, 7, or 8. The obtaining an operational capacity for a shared image device of operation 1802 can include operation 1806, that can include, but is not limited to, obtaining a battery life capacity of the shared image device. For example, utilizing the operational capacity 2102, as described with respect to FIG. 21, to obtain a battery life capacity. The obtaining an operational capacity for a shared image device of operation 1802 can include operation 1808, that can include, but is not limited to, obtaining a processing power capacity of the shared image device. For example, utilizing the operational capacity 2102, as described with respect to FIG. 21, to obtain a processing power capacity. The obtaining an operational capacity for a shared image device of operation 1802 can include operation 1810, that can include, but is not limited to, obtaining a storage memory capacity of the shared image device. The obtaining an operational capacity for a shared image device of operation 1802 can include operation 1812, that can include, but is not limited to, obtaining an available computation time capacity of the shared image device. For example, utilizing the operational capacity 2102, as described with respect to FIG. 21, to obtain a computation time capacity. The estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of operation 1814 can include operation 1816, that can include, but is not limited to, estimating the at least one operational resource to transform at least one image to a higher resolution. For example, utilizing the estimating an operational resource 2104, as described with respect to FIG. 21, to transform at least one image to a higher resolution. The estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of operation 1814 can include operation 1818, that can include, but is not limited to, estimating the at least one operational resource to transform at least one image to a higher resolution in which one or more first pixel values from the one or more images would be combined with one or more second pixel values from at least one portion of an at least one other image. For example, utilizing the estimating an operational resource 2104, and as described with respect to FIG. 21, to transform an image to a higher resolution. The estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of operation 1814 can include operation 1820, that can include, but is not limited to, estimating the at least one operational resource to transform at least one image to a higher resolution in which a mathematical operation would be performed relative to at least some existent pixel values of the one or more images to derive at least some intermediate pixel values. For example, estimating the operational resource 2104, within the shared image device 101 g, as described with respect to FIG. 21 to a higher resolution using, for example, but not limited to, adding pixels having averaged or another mathematical operation-derived value, as described with respect to FIG. 9. The estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of operation 1814 can include operation 1822, that can include, but is not limited to, estimating the at least one operational resource to transform at least one image to a lower resolution. For example, estimating the operational resources 2104, as described with respect to FIG. 21, to transform at least one image to a lower resolution. The estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of operation 1814 can include operation 1824, that can include, but is not limited to, estimating the at least one operational resource to transform the one or more images from the shared image device at least partially using at least some reference image information provided by at least one other image device. For example, the shared image device 101 g as described with respect to FIG. 21, estimates the operational resource (e.g., energy, battery life, etc.) to transform images using at least some reference information, such as provided by standard color or other reference card (e.g., GretagMacbeth™ ColorChecker, which is commercially available) that could be provided by another image device such as the shared image device 101 h, or alternatively an object having known reference properties. The estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of operation 1814 can include operation 1826, that can include, but is not limited to, estimating the at least one operational resource to produce at least some reference image information that when transmitted to the at least one other shared image device, can cause the at least one other shared image device to convert the one or more other images based at least partially on the at least some reference image information. For example, estimating the operational resources 2104, as described with respect to FIG. 21, to transform at least one image to produce at least some reference image information (e.g., capture images of the color reference card), that when the images are transmitted to at least one other shared image device, can cause the at least one other shared image at least some reference image information. The estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of operation 1814 can include operation 1828, that can include, but is not limited to, estimating the at least one operational resource to change at least some metadata associated with the one or more images. For example, estimating the operational resources 2104, as described with respect to FIG. 21, to transform at least some metadata associated with one or more images. It may be desired to change the metadata to relate the images particularly to the shared image device obtaining the images, instead of the shared image device capturing the images. The estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of operation 1814 can include operation 1830, that can include, but is not limited to, estimating the at least one operational resource to transform the one or more images in the shared image device to derive at least some framed images. For example, estimating the operational resources 2104, as described with respect to FIG. 21, to transform one or more images in the shared image device to derive at least some framed images, such as can be derived when other images are obtained (from the same shared image device or from another shared image device). One example of framed images is described in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 27, in which a background image can be derived from a remote capturing portion 910 (perhaps contained within a first shared image device), and a subject image can be captured by the local capturing portion 908 (perhaps contained within either the first shared image device or a second shared image device). The estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of operation 1814 can include operation 1832, that can include, but is not limited to, estimating the at least one operational resource to transform the one or more images in the shared image device that can combine with one or more other images at the at least one other shared image device to form one or more framed images at the at least one other shared image device. For example, estimating the operational resources 2104, as described with respect to FIG. 21, to transform the one or more images in the shared image device that can combine with one or more other images at the at least one other shared image device to form one or more framed images at the at least one other shared image device. One example of framed images is described in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 27, in which a background image can be derived from a remote capturing portion 910 (perhaps contained within a first shared image device), and a subject image can be captured by the local capturing portion 908 (perhaps contained within either the first shared image device or a second shared image device).

Certain embodiments of operation 1840 can include, but are not limited to, automatically controlling at least part of an operation of the shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 d automatically controls an operation of the shared image device 101 e, as described with respect to FIG. 20. Certain embodiments of operation 1842 can include, but are not limited to, controlling at least partially with a user interface an operation of the shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 d controls at least partially with a user interface an operation of the shared image device 101 e, as described with respect to FIG. 20. Certain embodiments of operation 1844 can include, but are not limited to, automatically terminating at least part of an operation of the shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 d automatically terminating an operation of the shared image device 101 e, as described with respect to FIG. 20. Certain embodiments of operation 1846 can include, but are not limited to, terminating at least partially with a user interface an operation of the shared image device. For example, the shared image device 101 d terminates at least partially, using a user interface, an operation of the shared image device 101 e, as described with respect to FIG. 20. The order of the operations, methods, mechanisms, etc. as described with respect to FIGS. 18 a, 18 b, and/or 18 c are intended to be illustrative in nature, and not limited in scope.

Naming Aspects

Other embodiments of shared image devices 101 involve “naming”. A unique name for a particular session can be associated with each of the shared image devices that captured at least one shared image such as a digital camera or camcorder. Another simpler sharing embodiment involves shared image devices 101 that can be pre-configurable when being built or distributed. For example, multiple cameras can be associated with each other such that at least some of those cameras will be able to share and/or copy images. For example, the metadata contained in the embodiment of the local capturing portion 908, as described with respect to FIG. 24, indicates whose camera captured the image as well as the subject of each captured shared image. In another embodiment, multiple cameras may not even require an express actuation of the sharing mechanism 102, but the sharing mechanism can be actuated by turning on at least some of the cameras concurrently. In another embodiment, the owner of the entire set of shared image devices 101 can be, for example, people getting married or the parents of the birthday party child.

In one embodiment, the shared image device 101 identifies where a particular shared image was captured or imaged, the subject of the particular shared image, and/or when the shared image was captured. In one embodiment, these types of shared image information can be contained as metadata relative to the shared image device 101. As such, the metadata can be used to answer queries that may be applied to the shared images in the sharing session.

Naming allows a shared image device 101 to be identified to its owner, or with its user. In one embodiment, a name stored as metadata or other information can include a filename and a timestamp, and an identification of the individual shared image device (e.g., the identity name can be added as the filename). The metadata can therefore be provided within the desired format on the shared images.

Certain new embodiments involve providing multiple shared image devices 101 at a given session being provided with a synchronized timestamp. As such, the shared images that pertain to a particular event such as a wedding can be sorted depending upon the chronology of when they occurred. For example, shared images that are associated with a wedding can be chronologically categorized and separated as shared images that occurred prior to the wedding, during the wedding, after the wedding, during the reception, or at the bar afterwards, etc. This therefore can allow the sharing mechanism to provide an offset time, for the distinct shared image devices 101. This can act similarly to synchronizing watches between multiple photographers, and indicating the time of each photograph that can be sequentially arranged.

CONCLUSION

This disclosure provides a number of embodiments of the sharing mechanisms that can allow images that are located on one device to be transferred to another device. Different configurations of peripheral shared image devices and/or capturing shared image devices may be combined using networking techniques. Different embodiments of the sharing mechanisms can be included in such embodiments of the shared image network 100 as telecommunication systems, computer systems, audio systems, video systems, teleconferencing systems, and/or hybrid combinations of certain ones of these systems. The embodiments of the shared image devices as described with respect to this disclosure are intended to be illustrative in nature, and are not limiting its scope.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the art has progressed to the point where there is little distinction left between hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardware and software can become significant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for mainly a hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for mainly a software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devices and/or other technologies described herein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understood by those within the art that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing media include, but are not limited to, the following: recordable type media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digital tape, and computer memory; and transmission type media such as digital and analog communication links using TDM or IP based communication links (e.g., packet links).

All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in any Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entireties.

The herein described aspects depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, “operably linked”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable components.

It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that, in general, that the terms used in the disclosure, including the drawings and the appended claims (and especially as used in the bodies of the appended claims), are generally intended as “open” terms. For example, the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to”; the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least”; and the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to”; etc. In this disclosure and the appended claims, the terms “a”, “the”, and “at least one” located prior to one or more items are intended to apply inclusively to either one or a plurality of those items.

Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that could have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that could have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the herein-described specific exemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies are representative of more general processes and/or devices and/or technologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filed herewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

Within this disclosure, elements that perform similar functions in a similar way in different embodiments may be provided with the same or similar numerical reference characters in the figures. 

1. A shared image device, comprising: a device energy estimator configurable to estimate an energy value for the shared image device; a resolution conversion energy indicator configurable to indicate whether the shared image device has a sufficient energy to convert a resolution of at least one image at least partially relative to the energy level for the shared image device; a sharing mechanism that is configurable to at least partially share the at least one image with at least another shared image device, wherein the sharing mechanism is configurable to convert the resolution of the at least one image; the resolution conversion energy indicator configurable to determine that the shared image device does not have the sufficient energy to convert the resolution of the at least one image; and the shared image device configurable to communicate to a second device to convert the resolution of the at least one image in response to determining that the shared image device does not have the sufficient energy to convert the resolution of the at least one image.
 2. The shared image device of claim 1, wherein the sharing mechanism that is configurable to at least partially share the at least one image with at least another shared image device comprises: the sharing mechanism configurable to transmit the at least one image to at least one other shared image device.
 3. The shared image device of claim 1, wherein the sharing mechanism that is configurable to at least partially share the at least one image with at least another shared image device comprises: the sharing mechanism configurable to receive the at least one image from at least one other shared image device.
 4. The shared image device of claim 1, wherein the shared image device further comprises: the resolution conversion energy indicator configurable to determine that the shared image device does have the sufficient energy to convert the resolution of the at least one image; and the shared image device configurable to convert the resolution of the at least one image.
 5. The shared image device of claim 1, wherein the shared image device further comprises: the resolution conversion energy indicator configurable to determine that the shared image device does not have the sufficient energy to convert the resolution of the at least one image; and the shared image device configurable to transfer the at least one image to a second device in response to determining that the shared image device does not have the sufficient energy to convert the resolution of the at least one image.
 6. The shared image device of claim 1, wherein the shared image device further comprises: the resolution conversion energy indicator configurable to determine that the shared image device does not have the sufficient energy to convert the resolution of the at least one image; and the shared image device configurable to cancel attempts to convert the resolution of the at least one image based at least in part on the resolution conversion energy indicator determining that the shared image device does not have the sufficient energy to convert the resolution of the at least one image.
 7. The shared image device of claim 1, wherein the resolution conversion energy indicator configurable to indicate whether the shared image device has a sufficient energy to convert a resolution of at least one image comprises: the resolution conversion energy indicator configurable to indicate whether the shared image device has the sufficient energy to convert the resolution to a higher resolution. 